Do Bone Density, Bone Microarchitecture, and Body Composition Differ in Recipients of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem...

The significant advancements made in the field of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) have ensured increased longevity in transplant recipients. However, they do have late effects that may adversely affect the endocrine system, bone health, and body composition. This study was undertaken to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone score, and body composition in recipients of allo-HSCT and compare them with age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) matched controls. This was a cross-sectional study done in 63 cases and 65 matched controls. The mean femoral neck BMD was found to be lower in cases than in controls (0.777 [0.119] versus 0.846 [0.122] g/cm², P =  .002). Among cases, the mean BMD at the neck of femur was lower in patients who had received myeloablative conditioning compared with those who had received the nonmyeloablative regimen (0.731 [0.090] versus 0.802 [0.126] g/cm², P = .014]. The mean (SD) bone density at the lumbar spine was significantly lower in the group that had received total body irradiation compared with the group that did not (0.930 [0.111] versus 0.993 [0.127], P = .044). Trabecular bone score did not differ between cases and controls (1.383 [0.877] versus 1.389 [0.750], P = .670). The lean mass was significantly lower (15.9 [2.4] versus 18.6 [4.8] kg/m², P < .001) and the prevalence of sarcopenia (42% versus 11%, P < .001) significantly higher in cases than in controls. Normal-weight obesity was also noted to be higher among those with sarcopenia than in those without (12/26 versus 5/36; P = .009). The procedure of allo-HSCT may thus cause an impairment of bone health and alterations in body composition well after the cure of the primary disease.