title: Functional evaluation indicates physical losses after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a function evaluation of patients before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From November 2008 to November 2010, 29 female (58%) and 21 male patients (42%) with median age of 48 years (range: 24-67) were enrolled in this study. Data collection was performed before and after autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Evaluation instruments included the 2-minute walking test to evaluate gait performance with assessment of the oxygen saturation, heart rate and Borg Scale before and after the test; grip strength for strength evaluation, Schober Test for spine mobility testing and maximum and adapted activity scores of the Human Activity Profile questionnaire to test functionality in daily activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty patients were evaluated at baseline; six did not undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (three died, one refused and two were excluded). Thus 44/50 (88% - 21 allogeneic and 23 autologous) transplantations were performed. Only 33 of the 44 patients (75%) performed evaluations after transplantation (nine died and two were excluded). Of the patients who performed both evaluations, significantly lower values were found in the evaluation after transplantation for the 2-minute walking test (p-value = 0.004), grip strength of both right and left hands (p-value = 0.004 and p-value < 0.0001, respectively), the Schober Test, and maximum and adapted activity scores (p-value < 0.0001). The heart rate was higher (p-value = 0.01) before the 2-minute walking test and oxygen saturation was higher (p-value = 0.02) after.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statistical differences indicate functional impairment after transplantation showing physical losses in this population.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarissa Vasconcellos
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Eliana Cristina Martins
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Francisco José Penteado
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Aranha
authors.forename: Cármino Antonio
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Afonso Celso
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vigorito
keywords: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Physical examination; Rehabilitation