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Updated: Feb 27, 2026

Competitive Transplants to Evaluate Hematopoietic Stem Cell Fitness
Published on: August 31, 2016
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index Predicts Morbidity and Mortality in Autologous Stem
Mariano Berro1, Jorge A Arbelbide2, Maria M Rivas1
1Department of Hematology, Transplant Unit, Hospital Universitario Austral, Derqui, Argentina.
Insights
The hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) effectively predicts nonrelapse mortality (NRM) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). High-risk HCT-CI scores significantly correlate with increased early and long-term NRM and composite morbidity-mortality post-ASCT.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Transplant Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- The hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) is established for predicting nonrelapse mortality (NRM) in allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
- Its utility in autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is less defined, necessitating further investigation into its predictive power for morbidity and mortality outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the HCT-CI score in predicting 100-day morbidity (orotracheal intubation, dialysis, shock), 100-day NRM, early composite morbidity-mortality, and long-term NRM following ASCT.
- To identify patient and treatment factors influencing outcomes after ASCT.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 1730 adult patients undergoing ASCT between October 2002 and August 2016 in Argentinean centers.
- Assessment of HCT-CI scores and correlation with defined morbidity and mortality endpoints, including 100-day outcomes and long-term NRM.
- Multivariate analysis to identify independent predictors of adverse outcomes.
Main Results:
- High-risk HCT-CI patients showed significantly increased 100-day NRM (6.1%), orotracheal intubation (11%), shock (8.7%), and early composite morbidity-mortality (13%) compared to intermediate and low-risk groups.
- Multivariate analysis confirmed HCT-CI as a significant predictor for early composite morbidity-mortality (OR 3.3 for high-risk) and NRM (HR 3.05 for high-risk).
- Heavily pretreated status, age ≥ 55 years, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and specific conditioning regimens also impacted outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The HCT-CI score is a significant predictor of NRM and early toxicity after ASCT, primarily driven by early NRM and composite morbidity endpoints.
- The findings support the expanded use of the HCT-CI score to stratify risk and manage patients undergoing ASCT.
- Further research may refine HCT-CI application or identify novel predictive markers for ASCT outcomes.
Abstract:
The hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) score is a useful tool to assess the risk for nonrelapse mortality (NRM) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although the HCT-CI has been investigated in autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), its use is limited. To improve on the current use of the HCT-CI score on the morbidity and mortality after ASCT, we assessed the 100-day morbidity defined as orotracheal intubation (OTI), dialysis or shock (vasopressors need), 100-day NRM, early composite morbidity-mortality (combined endpoint that included any previous endpoints), and long-term NRM. We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 1730 records of adult patients who received an ASCT in Argentinean center's between October 2002 and August 2016. Median follow-up was 1.15 years, and median age was 53 years. Diseases were multiple myeloma (48%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (27%), and Hodgkin lymphoma (17%); 51% were in complete or partial remission; and 13% received ≥ 3 chemotherapy lines before transplant (heavily pretreated). Early NRM (100-day) was 2.7%, 5.4% required OTI, 4.5% required vasopressors, and 2.1% dialysis, with an early composite morbidity-mortality of 6.8%. Long-term (1 and 3 years) NRM was 4% and 5.2% and overall survival 89% and 77%, respectively. High-risk HCT-CI patients had a significant increase in 100-day NRM compared with intermediate and low risk (6.1% versus 3.4% versus 1.8%, respectively; P = .002), OTI (11% versus 6% versus 4%, P = .001), shock (8.7% versus 5.8% versus 3%, P = .001), early composite morbidity-mortality (13% versus 9 % versus 4.7%, P < .001), and long-term NRM (1 year, 7.7% versus 4% versus 3.3%; and 3 years, 10.8% versus 4% versus 4.8%, respectively; P = .002). After multivariate analysis these outcomes remained significant: early composite morbidity-mortality (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] compared with low risk: intermediate risk 2.1 [1.3 to 3.5] and high risk 3.3 [1.9 to 5.9]) and NRM (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] compared with low risk: intermediate risk .97 [.8 to 2.4] and high risk 3.05 [1.3 to 4.5]). No significant impact was observed in overall survival. Other than comorbidities, significant impact was observed for heavily pretreated patients, age ≥ 55 years, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and bendamustine-etoposide-citarabine-melphalan conditioning. We confirmed that the HCT-CI had a significant impact on NRM after ASCT, and these findings are mainly due to early toxicity express as 100-day NRM and the 3 main morbidity outcomes as well as the composite endpoint.
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