Incidence and risk factors of pain crisis after hematopoietic cell transplantation for sickle cell disease

ABSTRACT

Vaso-occlusive episodes (VOC) or pain crises are the most common indications for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for sickle cell disease (SCD). Elimination of pain crisis after HCT is an important patient-centered outcome and may improve understanding of the natural history of pain syndromes in SCD. We examined deidentified records of 763 patients followed-up for a median of 36.7 months (range, 0.3-168.6 months), with 69.6% patient's age <18 years at HCT, 83.3% patient's Karnofsky-Lansky performance score (KPS) ≥90, overall survival 92.9%, event-free survival 72.4%, graft failure (GF) 22.4%, AGVHD 21.4%, CGVHD 27%, and pain crisis 8.65%. On unadjusted logistic regression, increased risk of pain crisis after HCT was observed in patient's aged >10 years at HCT (range, 11-17 years; OR, 9.43; 95% CI, 3.20-27.79; P < .0001), in age ≥18 years (OR, 16.62; 95% CI, 5.85-47.16; P < .0001), in those with history of pain crisis 2 years before HCT (OR, 13.16; 95% CI, 4.08-42.42; P < .0001), alternate donors (haploidentical [OR, 4.80; 95% CI, 2.48-9.31; P < .0001], unrelated matched [OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.23-5.97; P = .0132], and mismatched unrelated [OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.44-7.05; P = .0041], and those with GF (n = 41 [5.37%]; OR, 7.15; 95% CI, 4.20-12.18; P < .0001). Pain crisis was less frequent with KPS of ≥90 (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.18-0.55; P < .0001). Multivariable logistic regression models confirmed age at HCT, KPS, graft type, donor type, history of VOC 2 years before HCT, and GF as independent predictors of pain crisis after HCT and generated predictive models and nomograms for pain crisis after HCT for SCD, which can support shared decision making.

Prevalence of thalassaemia, iron-deficiency anaemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency among Arab migrating nomad children, southern Islamic Republic of Iran

This study investigated the prevalence of iron-deficiency anaemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and β-thalassaemia trait among Arab migrating nomad children in southern Islamic Republic of Iran. Blood samples were analysed from 134 schoolchildren aged < 18 years (51 males, 83 females). Low serum ferritin (< 12 ng/dL) was present in 17.9% of children (21.7% in females and 11.8% in males). Low haemoglobin (Hb) correlated significantly with a low serum ferritin. Only 1 child had G6PD deficiency. A total of 9.7% of children had HbA2 ≥ 3.5 g/dL, indicating β-thalassaemia trait (10.8% in females and 7.8% in males). Mean serum iron, serum ferritin and total iron binding capacity were similar in males and females. Serum ferritin index was as accurate as Hb index in the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anaemia. A high prevalence of β-thalassaemia trait was the major potential risk factor in this population.