title: Relationship between corticosteroid dose and declines in physical function among allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between corticosteroid dose and degree of physical function decrease in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) patients during the early stage of recovery. We further investigated the confounding factors affecting loss of physical function.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 113 patients who underwent allo-HSCT between July 2007 and April 2012 at Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital in Japan. Physical function was assessed using tests for hand-grip strength, knee-extensor strength, and the 6-min walk test (6MWT). Fatigue was measured using the Piper Fatigue Scale. Total corticosteroid dose, frequency of physical therapy, body weight, and nutritional status were also collected from medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total corticosteroid dose was correlated with decrease of hand-grip and knee-extensors strength (P < 0.01) but was not correlated with 6MWT performance. Results of multivariate analysis confirmed that low physical function was associated not only with high corticosteroid dose but also with low frequency of physical therapy, increase in fatigue, and body weight loss (P < 0.05). Also, hemoglobin levels were associated with 6MWT (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed the relationship between corticosteroid dose and declines in physical function and also showed other clinical factors affecting loss of physical function among allo-HSCT patients. Our results indicate that the effectiveness of rehabilitation may be influenced by corticosteroid treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan. ptmorishin@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaida
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sota
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikegame
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Domen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones