Post Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Complication Management in Case of Malignant Lymphoma Patients

Introduction: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) represents a standard therapy in the management of hematologic malignancies such as malignant lymphomas and has used for approximately three decades. The aim of this study was to determine the occurring post-ASCT complications and their impact on the patients’ recovery for a better management.

Material and methods: An observational retrospective study was performed during a five-year period between 2012 and 2017, involving 58 classical Hodgkin lymphoma and 36 non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, who underwent ASCT in the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of Tîrgu Mureş. The main analyzed complications were: infections, bleeding, hydroelectrolytic disorders, and hypoalbuminemia.

Results: After data analysis we found that 17 patients (18%) presented microbiologically confirmed infection, 10 patients (11%) presented clinically non-significant bleeding, 39 patients (42%) presented electrolyte disorders, and 33 patients (36%) presented hypoalbuminemia, obtaining a positive correlation between the rate of adverse events after ASCT with age (r = 0.9914, p = 0.0009) and the average hospitalization period (r = 1, p <0.00001).

Conclusions: The identification of adverse events and their correlation with the patients’ clinical outcome can lead to better patient management and a faster recovery after ASCT.