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Published on: February 11, 2019

Growth patterns and gastrointestinal symptoms in pediatric patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Cheryl Rodgers1, Patricia Wills-Alcoser, Rebecca Monroe

  • 1Texas Children's Cancer Center and Hematology Service, Houston, USA. ccrodger@txccc.org

Oncology Nursing Forum
|May 10, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) show poor growth and experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms post-transplant. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) did not significantly impact growth or GI symptoms in this study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
  • Transplantation Medicine
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a critical treatment for pediatric cancers and other diseases.
  • Understanding post-transplant recovery, including growth and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, is vital for patient outcomes.
  • The potential impact of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) on these recovery parameters requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify growth patterns in pediatric patients during the first four months after HSCT.
  • To characterize gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms experienced by these patients.
  • To assess the association between acute GVHD and changes in growth or GI symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, longitudinal cohort study design.
  • Involved 35 pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT at a tertiary children's hospital.
  • Anthropometric measurements and GI symptom surveys were conducted before and at two and four months post-HSCT.

Main Results:

  • Significant changes in anthropometric measurements were observed; height increased, while weight and body composition decreased.
  • Eight GI symptoms were prevalent, with minimal fluctuation in severity and distress scores over four months.
  • No statistically significant differences in growth parameters or GI symptoms were found between patients with and without acute GVHD.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric patients exhibit suboptimal growth patterns and persistent GI symptoms in the initial four months following HSCT.
  • Nurses play a crucial role in monitoring growth and symptom experience to optimize recovery plans for pediatric HSCT patients.
Abstract

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