[Lung function changes after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate lung function abnormalities in children who underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and to compare these abnormalities between autologous and allogenic transplantation.


METHODS
Prospective observational study from 1996 to 2005. Ninety-three children receiving HSCT, 47 autologous and 46 allogenic, were included. Lung function tests were performed before transplantation and at 2, 6, 12 and 24 months afterwards. The following indices were determined: forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO). Paired Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis of data.


RESULTS
Before HSCT, 6.8% of the children had FEV1<80%, 1% FEV1/FVC<80%, 7.8% TLC<80% and 13.5% DLCO<70%. At 2 months, FEV1/FVC, TLC and DLCO were significantly reduced, when compared to pre-transplantation values (p=0.05, 0.011 and p<0.001, respectively). Lung function gradually improved from 6 months post-transplantation, but did not reach pre-transplantation values at 24 months. No significant differences were found when comparing allogenic and autologous transplantation, apart from a lower FEV1/FVC value at 6 months (p=0.02) in the first group.


CONCLUSIONS
An important proportion of children who undergo HSCT have early pulmonary abnormalities (at 2 and 6 months after transplantation) with partial recovery at 24 months.
de la Calle Cabrera
T
T
Servicios de Neumofisiología, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain. teresacalle1@hotmail.com
Villa Asensi
J R
JR
González Vicent
M
M
Díaz Pérez
M A
MA
González Alvarez
M I
MI
Madero López
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous