Weight gain during treatment course of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with hematological malignancies affects treatment outcome

Abstract

Background aims Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an effective treatment for patients with hematological malignancies; however, allo-HSCT does not come without the cost of treatment-related morbidity and mortality. Early detection of risk factors could be helpful in identifying patients who could benefit from early interventions. Many patients gain weight during the allo-HSCT treatment, although little is known about the impact of weight gain.

Methods Weight gain in 146 consecutively enrolled adult patients undergoing allo-HSCT was explored.

Results In total, 141 patients (97%) gained weight along the course of allo-HSCT. Median weight increase was 4.8 kg (range 0.0–16.1 kg), with median increase in body weight 6.5% (range 0.0%–30.8%). Maximum weight increase was observed at day +7 (range day –8, +44). Weight gain was associated with increased incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease. Patients with weight gain >10% had a significantly greater 5-year mortality compared with those with lower weight gain (P = 0.031, rank sum test).

Conclusions Weight gain is a simple variable with the ability to provide prognostic information for patients undergoing allo-HSCT.