Ocular manifestations and quality of life in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Abstract

To explore the relationship between ocular and systemic conditions and the impact of ocular complications on the quality of life (QOL) in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ALLO-HSCT). Forty-four patients with severe hematopoietic disease were enrolled after ALLO-HSCT at our center from July 2018 to October 2020. They completed two questionnaires: the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the quality-of-life scale for Chinese patients with visual impairment (SQOL-DV1). Ocular conditions and systemic conditions were also assessed. Eye damage was correlated with total bilirubin (P=0.005), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (P=0.021). There was no significant correlation between the overall QOL score and OSDI (P=0.8226) or SQOL-DV1 (P=0.9526) scores. The OSDI and the overall QOL score were not correlated with ocular conditions, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, Schirmer tear test II, sodium fluorescein staining, tear film breakup time, and tear meniscus height. SQOL-DV1 was correlated with BCVA (P=0.0007), sodium fluorescein staining (P=0.007), and tear film breakup time (P=0.0146). In some patients, early ocular symptoms are not evident after ALLO-HSCT, while ocular surface complications can be observed after a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. Especially for those with elevated total bilirubin or GGT, regular ophthalmic follow-up visits are essential to diagnose and treat ocular graft versus host disease (oGVHD), especially for patients with elevated total bilirubin or GGT.