Cardiac Considerations in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia: A Review

Saeed Nateghi; Aziz Rasooli; Leila Moaddabshoar; Zahra Panahi; Mohammad Reza Rostami

doi:10.18502/ijhoscr.v19i1.17826

Saeed Nateghi Department of Cardiology, Baharloo Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
Aziz Rasooli Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
Leila Moaddabshoar Head of Prevention and Cancer Control Group, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Panahi Department of Perinatology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Reza Rostami Research Institute for Oncology, Hematology and Cell Therapy (RIOHCT), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijhoscr.v19i1.17826

Keywords: Transfusion-dependent thalassemia; Hematopoietic stem cell transplant; Cardiotoxicity; Cardiomyopathy; Graft-versus-host disease

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is considered a potentially curative treatment for several malignant and non-malignant hematologic disorders including transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT). However, HSCT is associated with short-term and long-term complications. One of the recognized causes of morbidity and mortality in TDT patients is heart-related complications. Additionally, cardiac involvement is likely to be more common in patients who proceed to HSCT. So the risks of cardiac complications should be carefully weighed against the advantages of the primary disease cure. This review aims to discuss the cardiac considerations that should be kept in mind in TDT patients going through the path of HSCT.