Last Updated: 2007-11-29 16:50:20 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) appears to be associated with the onset of premature cardiovascular disease, Swiss researchers report in the November 1st issue of Blood.
Dr. Andre Tichelli of University Hospital, Basel and colleagues examined data from 265 patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT and survived at least 2 years. The results were compared with those of 145 patients who underwent autologous HSCT.
At a median follow-up of 9 years, an arterial vascular event, such as ischemia, had occurred in 6.8% of the allogeneic group and 2.1% of the autologous group.
The cumulative incidence of a first cardiovascular event after 15 years was 7.5% in the allogeneic group and 2.3% in the autologous group. After adjustment for age, the relative risk in the allogeneic group was 6.92.
When at least two cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes or obesity, were added, the relative risk in the allogeneic HSCT patients rose to 12.4.
Given these findings, the investigators suggest that "allogeneic HSCT accelerates a preexisting predisposition and increases lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease by favoring the development or accentuation of established cardiovascular risk factors."
Blood 2007;110:3463-3471.
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