Significant and persistent loss of bone mineral density in the femoral neck after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: long-term follow-up of a prospective study.

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) but the effects of autologous SCT (autoSCT) are less well characterized. We performed a prospective study of BMD changes and its determinants in 44 SCT recipients (38 auto and six allo; 30 peripheral blood SCT and 14 bone marrow transplantation). Serial measurements of BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were performed at baseline and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months, and spinal radiographs were performed at baseline and 12 months.