It is a generally accepted tenet that Ejection Fraction of below 45% exposes a stem cell transplant candidate to excess cardiac risk. A recent study questioned this but clearly more studies are needed before this standard can be changed.
That study evaluated the frequency of cardiac complications and 100-day nonrelapse mortality (NRM) in 56 patients with a LVEF of ≤45%, who received allo HCT at one institution. The results were retrospectively compared with a matched control group with LVEF of ≥50%, which received an allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). After a median follow-up of 29 months in the study group, grade ≥2 cardiac complications were seen in 7 of 56 (12.5%) patients and cumulative incidence of 100-day NRM was 12.5% with no deaths from cardiac causes. In contrast, after a median follow-up of 49 months in the control group, grade >2 cardiac complications were seen in 19 of 161 patients (11.8%; P = 1.00) and cumulative incidence of 100-day NRM was 14.9% (P = .82). The presence of at least 1 of the 7 pretransplant cardiac risk factors (past history of smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, prior myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure) was associated with a higher cardiac complication rate in the study group (P = .03). The authors concluded that selected patients with a LVEF of ≤45% can safely receive allo-HCT without a significant increase in cardiac toxicity or NRM.
Sakata-Yanagimoto M, Kanda Y & Nakagawa M et al.. Predictors for severe cardiac complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 2004; 33: 1043−1047. |
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Susan
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