Symptom burden in patients undergoing autologous stem-cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2007 Jun;39(12):759-66. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1705664. Epub 2007 Apr 16.

Abstract

Patients who undergo autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation experience multiple symptoms that adversely affect quality of life. We assessed symptoms during the acute phase of autologous PBSC transplantation to determine the severity of individual symptoms and to determine overall symptom profiles in 100 patients with multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Study subjects completed the blood and marrow transplantation module of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory before hospitalization, during conditioning, on day of transplantation, at nadir (the time of lowest white blood cell count) and on day 30 post-transplantation. Additional symptom, quality-of-life and medical status measures were collected. Symptom means were mild at baseline, intensified during conditioning, peaked at nadir and decreased by day 30. At nadir, the most severe symptoms for the entire patient sample were lack of appetite, fatigue, weakness, feeling sick, disturbed sleep, nausea and diarrhea. Cancer diagnosis was a significant predictor of changes in symptoms over time. The patterns of fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance and lack of appetite were significantly different for patients with multiple myeloma as compared with patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affect
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / psychology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / psychology
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy*
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / psychology*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sleep Wake Disorders
  • Transplantation Conditioning / adverse effects
  • Transplantation, Autologous