Effects of bone marrow fibrosis and angiogenetic structure on autologous hematopoietic stem cell engraftment

Abstract

Purpose: Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) engraftment is influenced by many factors. We investigated the effects of bone marrow fibrosis and angiogenetic structure on engraftment in patients with hematological malignancies.

Materials and Methods: Data were collected from 34 patients (20 males and 14 females) who underwent autologous HSC transplantation. Bone marrow myelofibrosis was graded from 0 to 3, angiogenesis was quantified using a stereological method in the most recent bone marrow biopsy before the transplantation. Patients were categorized into two groups according to intensity of angiogenesis parameters.

Results: Half of the patients had fibrosis and majority had multiple myeloma (73.5%). Eleven patients had grade 1, six had grade 2 myelofibrosis. The engraftment day (ED) for platelets and erythrocytes was significantly different between the grade 2 fibrosis and non-fibrosis groups. VSD and NVES levels were significantly higher in the grades 1 and 2 fibrosis groups than the no fibrosis group. While the overall survival time was shorter in the grade 2 fibrosis group than the others, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Bone marrow fibrosis was found to be independent risk factor. It may have a negative effect on platelet and erythrocyte engraftment time of autologous transplantation process but this effect does not influence survival.