[Musculoskeletal manifestations in allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Abstract

Introduction: Few studies have examined musculoskeletal manifestations after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT).

Objective: To investigate the musculoskeletal symptoms observed after AHSCT for distinct hematological and non-hematological diseases.

Material and methods: We performed a retrospective, observational study through review of medical records.

Results: There were 123 patients who underwent AHSCT from 1996 to 2000: 34 children (aged 5 months-14 years) and 81 adults (aged 15-55 years). There were 48 women (39%) and 75 men (61%). Of these patients, 43 (34.90%) had acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Thirty-three out of 106 patients (31.1%) had chronic GVHD (cGVDH) and 50 patients (40.65%) died during follow-up. Musculoskeletal manifestations were found in 14 patients (13.2%): aseptic necrosis in six (5.6%), scleroderma in five (4.7%), arthralgia and bronchiolitis obliterans in one, polyarthralgia in one, and knee monoarthritis in one.

Conclusions: Musculoskeletal manifestations after AHSCT cannot be attributed to a single cause. Inflammatory and fibrosing manifestations can be due to the inflammatory process of cGVHD or to the treatments administered during transplantation.