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Absolute Lymphocyte Count After Bone Marrow Transplantation

Evaluating prognostic value

Publish date:: November 4, 2015

The optimal absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) cutoff to predict outcomes after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is 300/μL on day 60 post-transplant, according to a study of 518 patients who underwent BMT for acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Researchers found:

In a training cohort, the best predictor of overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and non-relapse mortality (NRM) was ALC on Day 60.

In the entire cohort, multivariable analysis showed significantly better OS, RFS, NRM, and lower incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) among patients with ALC > 300/μL on Day 60, regardless of whether patients who developed GVRD prior to Day 60 are included.

Among patient-, disease-, and transplant-related factors assessed, only busulfan-based conditioning was significantly associated with higher ALCs on Day 60.

Citation: Bayraktar UD, Milton DR, Guindani, et al. Optimal threshold and time of absolute lymphocyte count assessment for outcome prediction after bone marrow transplantation. [Published online ahead of print October 30, 2015]. Biol Blood Marrow Trans. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2015.10.020.

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