Early lymphocyte recovery as a predictor of outcome, including relapse, after hematopoieticstem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in the treatment of acute leukemia, many patients need to undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Recent studies show that early lymphocyte recovery may be a predictor of relapse and survival in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of lymphocyte recovery on Days +30 and +100 post-transplant on the occurrence of relapse and survival. METHODS: A descriptive, retrospective study was performed of 137 under 21-year-old patients who were submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute leukemia between 1995 and 2008. A lymphocyte count < 0.3 x 10(9)/L on Day +30 post-transplant was considered to be inadequate lymphocyte recovery and counts &gt; 0.3 x 10(9)/L were considered adequate. Lymphocyte recovery was also analyzed on Day +100 with < 0.75 x 10(9)/Land < 0.75 x 10(9)/L being considered inadequate and adequate lymphocyte recovery, respectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the occurrence of relapse between patients with inadequate and adequate lymphocyte recovery on Day +30 post-transplant. However, the transplant-related mortality was significantly higher in patients with inadequate recovery on Day +30. Patients with inadequate lymphocyte recovery on Day +30 had worse overall survival and relapse-free survival than patients with adequate recovery. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of infections and acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease. Patients with inadequate lymphocyte recovery on Day +100 had worse overall survival and relapse-free survival and a higher cumulative incidence of relapse. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of lymphocyte recovery on Day +30 is not a good predictor of relapse after transplant however patients with inadequate lymphocyte recovery had worse overall survival and relapse-free survival. Inadequate lymphocyte recovery on Day +100 is correlated with higher cumulative relapse as well as lower overall survival and relapse-free survival.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Morando,Juliane, Fortier,Sérgio Costa, Pasquini,Ricardo, Zanis Neto,José, Bonfim,Carmem Maria Sales
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Associação Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular 2012
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-84842012000600012
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