Study Identifies Key Predictors of Chronic Kidney Disease Post-Stem Cell Transplantation

A recent study has identified age and the duration of hematologic disease as significant predictors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This research was published in a recent issue of Renal Failure.

Researchers from the Fundeni Clinical Institute in Bucharest, Romania, conducted a prospective analysis involving 197 patients, with a mean age of 38.7 years, to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with CKD in the post-transplant population. The cohort consisted of 52.8% female patients.

The findings revealed that acute kidney injury was observed in 80% of participants within the first three months after transplantation, and the incidence of CKD was reported at 11.7%, with a median onset of six months post-transplant.

According to the analysis, age emerged as the sole variable significantly correlated with CKD in univariate Cox regression analysis, which indicated a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.06 per year of age. Moreover, baseline creatinine levels also showed a trend of association with CKD.

The study further employed multivariate Cox regression analysis, highlighting age (HR, 1.08 per year) and the duration of hematologic disease (HR, 1.01 per month) as positive predictors for the development of CKD. Interestingly, acute lymphoblastic leukemia was identified as a negative predictive factor, with an HR of 0.37.

The authors of the study emphasize that as the oncological prognosis for these patients continues to improve, CKD is increasingly becoming a significant concern for long-term care following HSCT. This situation necessitates a multidisciplinary approach to patient management to address the complexities associated with CKD.

This research underscores the importance of monitoring renal function in patients undergoing HSCT, particularly considering the influence of age and the duration of underlying hematologic conditions. As healthcare providers adapt to the evolving landscape of care for post-transplant patients, understanding these predictors will be crucial in managing long-term health outcomes.