Adjunctive Dietary Therapy Is Associated With Improved Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Steroid-Refractory Gastrointestinal Graft-Versus-Host Disease: A Case Series.

Acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI GVHD) is a complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplant with high morbidity and mortality. In particular, steroid-refractory GI GVHD can be difficult to treat. Recent investigations have revealed that patients after transplant can experience intestinal dysbiosis contributing to the progression of GVHD.

Chemosensory changes and quality of life in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Purpose: To assess magnitude and characteristics of changes in chemosensory function and quality of life (QOL) for patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: Patients (aged 18 years and above) scheduled to undergo HSCT at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance were tested for chemosensory function at three time points: pre-transplant (baseline), 30 ± 5 days (day 30), and 80 ± 5 days (day 80) post-HSCT. Gustatory function was assessed following procedures developed at the Monell-Jefferson Taste and Smell Clinic.

Relationship of body mass index and arm anthropometry to outcomes after pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies.

Although nutritional status may adversely affect various health outcomes, the relationship between anthropometry and outcomes after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has not been fully studied in children. We analyzed the impact of pre-HCT body mass index (BMI), arm muscle area, and arm fat area on outcomes in 733 patients age 2-18 years who underwent allogeneic HCT for a hematologic malignancy between 1985 and 2009. We evaluated these 3 variables according to patient group based on age- and sex-adjusted percentiles for BMI, arm muscle area (<5th, 5th-24th, 25th-94th, and ≥95th), and arm fat area (<25th, 25th-94th, and ≥95th).