Predicting mortality and cost of hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the Pretransplantion Assesment of Mortality risk score is associated to transplant costs and can be used not only to predict mortality but also as a cost management tool. METHODS: We evaluated consecutively patients submitted to allogeneic (n = 27) and autologous (n = 89) hematopoietic stem cell-transplantation from 2004 to 2006 at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (SP), Brazil. Participants mean age at hematopoietic stem cell-transplantation was 42 (range 1 to 72) years; there were 69 males and 47 females; 30 patients had multiple myeloma; 41 had non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin's lymphomas; 22 had acute leukemia; 6 had chronic leukemia; and 17 had non-malignant disease. The Pretransplantion Assesment of Mortality risk score was applied in all patients using the available web site (http://cdsweb.fhcrc.org/ pam/). RESULTS: Patients could be classified in three risk categories: high, intermediate and low, having significant difference in survival (p = 0.0162). The median cost in US dollars for each group was $ 281.000, $ 73.300 and $ 54.400 for high, intermediate and low risk, respectively. The cost of hematopoietic stem cell-transplantation significantly differed for each Pretransplantin Assesment of Mortality risk group (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The validation of the Pretransplantion Assesment of Mortality risk score in our patients confirmed that this system is an important tool to be used in transplantation units, being easy to apply and fully reproducible.

Oral care in Brazilian bone marrow transplant centers.

BACKGROUND: Oral care is a fundamental procedure for the success of the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, particularly regarding the control of oral infectious diseases. Information about oral care protocols and the inclusion of dental professionals in transplantation medical staff is poorly known. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to carry out a survey about the protocols of Brazilian dental professionals with regard to oral care of HSCT patients. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 36 Brazilian transplant centers with questions about basic oral care protocols, the indication of specific mouthwashes, antibiotic therapy regimens, laser therapy, and treatment of oral mucositis and graft-versus-host disease. All the respondent centers (n = 12) have dentists as members of the HSCT medical staff. RESULTS: The majority indicate non-alcoholic chlorhexidine (n = 9; 75.0%) and sodium bicarbonate (n = 5; 41.7%) as routine mouthwashes. Laser therapy was frequently indicated (n= 9; 75.0%), mainly in the prevention of oral mucositis and in oral pain control. In the post-transplant period, antibiotic therapy was only indicated for invasive dental treatments (n= 8; 66.7%). Several treatments for graft-versus-host disease were mentioned without a trend towards establishing a standard protocol. CONCLUSION: Basic oral care constitutes regular assessment in the routine treatment of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients in Brazilian centers.

Predicting mortality and cost of hematopoeitic stem-cell transplantation / Preditores de mortalidade e custo de transplante de célula-tronco hematopoéticas

Objective: To evaluate whether the Pretransplantion Assesment of Mortality risk score is associated to transplant costs and can be used not only to predict mortality but also as a cost management tool. Methods: We evaluated consecutively patients submitted to allogeneic (n = 27) and autologous (n = 89) hematopoietic stem cell-transplantation from 2004 to 2006 at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (SP), Brazil. Participants mean age at hematopoietic stem cell-transplantation was 42 (range 1 to 72) years; there were 69 males and 47 females; 30 patients had multiple myeloma; 41 had non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin?s lymphomas; 22 had acute leukemia; 6 had chronic leukemia; and 17 had non-malignant disease. The Pretransplantion Assesment of Mortality risk score was applied in all patients using the available web site (http://cdsweb.fhcrc.org/pam/). Results: Patients could be classified in three risk categories: high, intermediate and low, having significant difference in survival (p = 0.0162). The median cost in US dollars for each group was $ 281.000, $ 73.300 and $ 54.400 for high, intermediate and low risk, respectively. The cost of hematopoietic stem cell-transplantation significantly differed for each Pretransplantin Assesment of Mortality risk group (p = 0.008). Conclusion: The validation of the Pretransplantion Assesment of Mortality risk score in our patients confirmed that this system is an important tool to be used in transplantation units, being easy to apply and fully reproducible.

Objetivo: Avaliar se o escore de risco Avaliação de Mortalidade Pré-Transplante está associado aos custos de transplante e pode ser usado não apenas para predizer a mortalidade, mas também como ferramenta de gerenciamento de custos. Métodos: Foram avaliados consecutivamente 27 pacientes submetidos a transplante alogênico e 89 a transplante autólogo de células tronco hematopoéticas no período de 2004 a 2006 no Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (SP). A média de idade dos pacientes por ocasião do transplante foi de 42 anos (variação de 1 a 72 anos); 69 eram do gênero masculino e 47 feminino; 30 pacientes tinham mieloma múltiplo, 41 linfoma não Hodgkin e linfoma de Hodgkin; 22 tinham leucemia aguda; 6 tinham leucemia crônica; e 17 doença não maligna. O escore de risco Avaliação de Mortalidade Pré-Transplante foi aplicado a todos os pacientes usando um web site fornecido pelos autores (http://cdsweb.fhcrc.org/pam/). Resultados: Classificaram-se os pacientes em três categorias de risco: alto, intermediário e baixo, apresentando diferença significativa de sobrevivência (p = 0,0162). O custo médio, em dólares, foi de U$ 281.000, U$ 73.300 e U$ 54.400 para risco alto, intermediário e baixo, respectivamente. O custo do transplante de células tronco hematopoéticas diferiu significantemente para cada grupo de risco segundo o escore Avaliação de Mortalidade Pré-Transplante (p = 0,008). Conclusão: A validação do escore de risco Avaliação de Mortalidade Pré-transplante em nossos pacientes confirmou que esse sistema é uma importante ferramenta a ser usada em unidades de transplante, sendo facilmente aplicável e inteiramente reprodutível.

Oral care in Brazilian bone marrow transplant centers

BACKGROUND: Oral care is a fundamental procedure for the success of the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, particularly regarding the control of oral infectious diseases. Information about oral care protocols and the inclusion of dental professionals in transplantation medical staff is poorly known. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to carry out a survey about the protocols of Brazilian dental professionals with regard to oral care of HSCT patients. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 36 Brazilian transplant centers with questions about basic oral care protocols, the indication of specific mouthwashes, antibiotic therapy regimens, laser therapy, and treatment of oral mucositis and graft-versus-host disease. All the respondent centers (n = 12) have dentists as members of the HSCT medical staff. RESULTS: The majority indicate non-alcoholic chlorhexidine (n = 9; 75.0 percent) and sodium bicarbonate (n = 5; 41.7 percent) as routine mouthwashes. Laser therapy was frequently indicated (n= 9; 75.0 percent), mainly in the prevention of oral mucositis and in oral pain control. In the post-transplant period, antibiotic therapy was only indicated for invasive dental treatments (n= 8; 66.7 percent). Several treatments for graft-versus-host disease were mentioned without a trend towards establishing a standard protocol. CONCLUSION: Basic oral care constitutes regular assessment in the routine treatment of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients in Brazilian centers.