Frequent and long-term follow-up of health-related quality of life following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) was evaluated in 94 patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) after myeloablative (MAC, n = 18) or reduced intensity conditioning (RIC, n = 76). HRQL was assessed with the EORTC QLQ C-30 during the inpatient period as well as during the following 3 years, i.e., at baseline and 12 times thereafter. Functional status and global quality of life decreased from baseline to weeks 2 and 3, especially role and social functions. Symptoms increased significantly during the first 3 weeks, particularly appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and fatigue. It took at least 1 year for HRQL to return to the baseline level. The only function that improved significantly 3 years after HSCT was role function. Patients treated with MAC experienced significantly worse HRQL at baseline than patients treated with RIC, as well as more pain, sleep disturbance and appetite loss in weeks 3 and 4. Patients with extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease experienced reduced HRQL. These results provide a clinically useful overview of patients' HRQL during and after HSCT and indicate when they require increased support. The results demonstrate the importance of close follow-ups during the first year after HSCT to improve preventive or supportive interventions.

Subcutaneous alemtuzumab vs ATG in adjusted conditioning for allogeneic transplantation: influence of Campath dose on lymphoid recovery, mixed chimerism and survival.

Sixty-nine consecutive patients (median age 54 years) were prospectively enrolled in a single-institution protocol for allogeneic transplantation with adjusted non-myeloablative fludarabine-melfalan-based conditioning including cyclosporin A and MMF, and one of three modes of serotherapy. Thirty-one donors (45%) were unrelated. The first cohort of 29 had ATG (Thymoglobulin 2 mg/kg x 3 days), the subsequent 26 had Campath 30 mg x 3 days subcutaneously, and the final cohort of 14 had 30 mg Campath once. The groups were similar as regards age, diagnosis and risk factors. Campath-patients had no acute toxicity, fewer days with fever and antibiotics, and required fewer transfusions than ATG-treated patients. 3-d-Campath patients showed lower lymphocyte counts from day +4, and CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ and NK cells recovered slower than in ATG-treated patients. More Campath patients developed mixed chimerism that required DLI. 3-d-Campath induced more serious and opportunistic infections than ATG, which resulted in a greater non-relapse mortality and an impaired overall survival despite a low tumor-related mortality. The change of the Campath dosing schedule to one dose abrogated the deleterious effect of 3-d-Campath on immune recovery, severe infections and survival. Subcutaneous Campath is simple and provides strong immune suppression with no early toxicity, but dose limitation to 30 mg once is recommended.

A prospective evaluation of patients' health-related quality of life during auto-SCT: a 3-year follow-up.

Few studies have evaluated long-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients during auto-SCT. This prospective study examined HRQL in 96 eligible patients before, during and up to 3 years after auto-SCT. The aim of the study was to make a comprehensive assessment of the frequency and severity of different symptoms in patients undergoing auto-SCT. The European Organization for Treatment and Research of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C-30) was administered 13 times. The second week during treatment was the period when patients had the lowest HRQL regarding both total quality of life and function and symptom scales. The patients recovered quickly and just two months after transplantation the baseline values were restored. Three years after transplantation most of the items in the questionnaire had stabilized, except role function and dyspnea, which had improved. There were significant differences between multiple myeloma (MM) and lymphoma patients' physical function, quality of life, fatigue and pain during week 2. At the 3-year follow-up, lymphoma patients indicated a better HRQL than MM patients. The quick recovery of patients after transplantation suggests that treatment is well tolerated; however, the supportive care could be improved at week 2, especially for the lymphoma patients.