A multi-center study of 2,985 allogeneic transplants has demonstrated that the hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index (HCT-CI) can predict the severity of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and subsequent mortality. Probabilities of grades III-IV GVHD were 13%, 18%, and 24% for HCT-CI risk groups of 0, 1-4, and ≥5, respectively (p<0.0001). This association was consistent among different conditioning intensities, donor types, and stem cell sources. The HCT-CI was statistically significantly associated with mortality rates following diagnosis of grade II (HR=1.24, p<0.0001) or grades III-IV acute GVHD (HR=1.19, p<0.0001). The authors conclude that the HCT-CI can be a useful tool when planning patients’ GVHD prevention and treatment options.
Pre-Transplant Comorbidities Predict Severity of Acute GVHD
May 2014