Engraftment syndrome following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children

Pediatr Transplant. 2009 Nov;13(7):831-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2008.01068.x. Epub 2008 Nov 1.

Abstract

ES is a complication that occurs immediately before or at the timing of neutrophil engraftment following autologous or allogeneic SCT. It is characterized by fever, skin rash, and non-cardiac pulmonary infiltrates. We evaluated the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of ES following allogeneic SCT in children. Of 100 pediatric patients, 20 (20%) developed ES occurring at a median of 14 days (range 8-27 days) post-transplant. Patients presented with fever (100%), skin rash (100%), diffuse pulmonary infiltration (25%), and body weight gain (85%). On multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for ES included younger age (<8 yr old) and human leukocyte antigen disparity between donors and recipients. Univariate analysis showed that patients with ES had a higher incidence of developing chronic graft-versus-host disease and ES was not associated with other complications. Event-free survival did not significantly differ between patients with and without ES regardless of the presence of malignant or non-malignant diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / etiology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / therapy
  • HLA Antigens / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Transplantation Conditioning / adverse effects
  • Transplantation, Homologous / adverse effects
  • Transplantation, Homologous / methods*

Substances

  • HLA Antigens