Investigation of the Effect of Pre-Transplantation Iron Overload on Posttransplantation Complications and Survival in Patients With Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract

Objectives: Many studies have shown that ferritin values that are used as an indicator of iron overload are associatedwith adverse outcomes after bone marrov transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ferritin ondevelopment of complications after transplantation.Methods: The data of the patients who underwent HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation) in HacettepeUniversity Faculty of Medicine, June 2001 - March 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. The study cohort was dividedinto 2 groups as low ferritin group (ferritin <500 ng/ml) and high ferritin group (ferritin ≥500 ng/ml).Results: The median age was 43 (17-69) in whole group, 51 (19-69) in the autologous SCT group, and 33 (17-58) in theallogeneic SCT group. There was a statistically significant relationship between the levels of ferritin concentrations andmucositis, fungal infection, BCI (blood circulation infections) development in some groups. There was no statisticallysignificant relationship between high ferritin values and transplant related mortality and overall survival in both autologousand allogeneic SCT patients (p=1 and p=0.17).Conclusion: It was observed that high ferritin concentrations before SCT were associated with post-transplantationtoxic and infectious complications such as mucositis, fungal infection, BCI.