Abstract
Bronchiolitis obliterans following a bone marrow transplantation needs an early diagnosis for a better evolution. First signs are exercise dyspnea and hypoxemia. A walking test evaluating the tolerance for effort could have an interest in detecting such symptoms. We report a preliminary study of feasibility of the 3-minute step-test in children with a bone marrow transplantation. Ten patients (5 boys, median 11.7 years, range 5.1-15.5 years) were included within at least 3 months away from a bone marrow transplantation. After clinical examination and realisation of pulmonary function tests, the test was to step up and down a single step which is 15 cm high, rhythmically (30 per minute) during 3 minutes. Heart rate and pulsed oxygen saturation were registered, dyspnea being assessed before and after the test by means of a visual analogue score and the fifteen-count breathlessness score. All the children realised the 3-minute step-test successfully and with excellent tolerance. Only 1 child made an effort judged maximum. No hypoxemia caused by the effort was highlighted. The 3-minute step-test is easy to achieve in a population of paediatric patients who have undergone a bone marrow transplantation. It could be a valuable tool in the respiratory follow up of these children.
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