Impact of muscle mass loss assessed by computed tomography on the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation

• Published in: Leukemia & lymphoma Vol. 63; no. 7; pp. 1694 - 1700
• Main Authors: Nagayama, Takashi, Fujiwara, Shin-ichiro, Kikuchi, Tomohiro, Onda, Kaoru, Murahashi, Rui, Nakashima, Hirotomo, Ikeda, Takashi, Matsuoka, Sae, Kawaguchi, Shin-ichiro, Toda, Yumiko, Ito, Shoko, Ban, Tetsuaki, Umino, Kento, Minakata, Daisuke, Nakano, Hirofumi, Yamasaki, Ryoko, Morita, Kaoru, Ashizawa, Masahiro, Yamamoto, Chihiro, Hatano, Kaoru, Sato, Kazuya, Oh, Iekuni, Ohmine, Ken, Kanda, Yoshinobu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 07-06-2022
• Subjects: allo-HCT; Sarcopenia; skeletal muscle mass loss; CT; Sarcopenia; allo-HCT; skeletal muscle mass loss
• ISSN: 1042-8194; 1029-2403
• DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2022.2034159

The definition of sarcopenia assessed by computed tomography (CT) varies among different reports, and few studies have examined the effect of muscle mass loss on the prognosis of post-hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We retrospectively evaluated 172 patients who underwent an initial allogeneic HCT for acute leukemia at our institution. They were divided into 3 groups according to muscle mass measured at the third lumbar vertebra as assessed by CT. Patients with low muscle mass had a worse performance status, higher comorbidity index and higher disease risk. There was a significant difference in 2-year overall survival between the 3 groups, and worse overall survival (OS) was associated with lower muscle mass (p = 0.005). Muscle mass loss did not affect non-relapse mortality (p = 0.238) but was significantly associated with relapse (p = 0.067). Pre-transplant muscle mass loss may therefore reflect a poor prognosis for the primary disease.