Medical course and complications after hematopoietic cell transplantation

Abstract

Hematopoietic cell transplantation can prolong lives; however, as any invasive treatment, it is associated with a variety of infectious and noninfectious complications. Patients experience a variety of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Noninfectious complications can affect immunologic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and dermatologic organ systems, among others. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common and devastating complication, which involves multiple organs, impairs quality of life, and decreases survival. This chapter discusses various post-HCT complications and their pathophysiology, epidemiology, and treatment.