Psychological and physical side effects during G-CSF mobilization in related donors of allo-HCT

The psychological side effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilization in related donors of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) and impacts of psychological/physical side effects on harvest outcomes remain largely unknown. We prospectively analyzed 349 consecutive related peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donors for allo-HCT at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine from March 2021 to August 2023. Higher baseline peripheral blood white blood cell counts (p = 0.046), monocyte counts (p < 0.001), platelet counts (p = 0.001), and hemoglobin (p < 0.001) had a positive correlation to CD34⁺ cell counts in the first leukapheresis, while female donors (male vs. female, p < 0.001) and older age (> 40 vs. < = 40, p = 0.003) were negatively related to CD34⁺ cell counts. Bone pain was the most observed physical side effect and was more frequent in female donors (p = 0.032). The incidence of fatigue was higher in female donors and older donors (female vs. male, p = 0.016; > 40 vs. < = 40, p = 0.015). Donor depression (pre vs. during mobilization, p < 0.001), anxiety (pre vs. during mobilization, p = 0.043) and insomnia (pre vs. during mobilization, p = 0.011) scores increased during the mobilization period. Donors with higher depression, anxiety and stress scores at admission were more likely to experience nausea. At 1 month after the last leukapheresis, the counts of white blood cell, neutrophil, monocyte and hemoglobin were significant lower than baseline counts, while the platelet counts recovered to baseline. The mobilization and harvest process can increase the depression, anxiety and insomnia scores. Poor psychological status of the donor can aggravate the occurrence of physical side effects.