Incidence of engraftment fever post autologous transplant for lymphomas and analysis of risk factors.

Abstract

7043 Background: Engraftment fever (EF) is a phenomenon observed in some patients undergoing autologous transplant (ASCT). We analyzed our data to evaluate the incidence and risk factors associated with EF. Methods: Seventy-nine patients underwent ASCT (53-Hodgkin’s and 26- Non Hodgkin’s) from August 2007 – January 2013. All except 5 received LACE (Lomustine, Ara-C, Cyclophosphamide and Etoposide) conditioning regimen. EF was defined as onset of fever with rising white cell count for which no infectious cause was ascertained. Patients of EF and non-EF groups were compared for the following variables to determine risk factors. These included histology, number of lines of chemotherapy regimens pre-transplant, complete remission (CR) at transplant, peripheral blood CD 34 count on day 1 of collection (PBCD34-D1), CD 34 cell dose collected and infused and number of days of stem cell collection. Results: The median age at transplant was 23.5 years with 57 males and 22 females. Time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 10 and 13 days respectively. EF was seen in 35 patients (44 %) at a median of 9 days. Short course of methylprednisolone (n=28) or hydrocortisone (n=3) was given to which all responded. On univariate analysis, PBCD34-D1 > 50/uL (P = 0.037), CD 34 cell dose infused >5.9x106/kg (P=0.012),CD34 cell dose collected > 7.2 x 10 6 /kg (P=0.032) , those receiving ≤ 2 lines of chemotherapy regimens before transplant (P=0.04), those who had ≤ 2 days of stem cell collection (P=0.002) and patients in CR at transplant (P = 0.015) were associated with risk of developing EF. On multivariate analysis, patients in CR at transplant and those who had ≤ 2 days of collection had higher risk of EF. Conclusions: The incidence of EF is high. Patients with lesser days of stem collection and those in CR at transplant have significant risk of developing EF.