HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation) for Dry Eyes

A doctor in Russia is trying HSCT for dry eyes. No reports have been published on this yet but it is known that Dry Eye is a potential side effect of HSCT. The idea is that chemotherapy is used to destroy a patient's immune cells and HSCT is used to reboot the immune system. This seems risky to me as we have seen at least 10 patients who have lost meibomian glands from pure chemo treatments (without radiation).

Has anyone out there tried HSCT for dry eyes?
SLC

Risk Factors for Dry Eye After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Piyada Yotnuengnit

, 

Udomsak Bunworasate

, 

Chantiya Chanswangphuwana

, 

Vilavun Puangsricharern

220

Open Archive

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbmt.2012.11.264

Article Info

• Abstract

• Full Text

Article Outline

1. Design
2. Objectives
3. Methods
4. Results
5. Conclusion

Jump to SectionDesignObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusion

Design

Case control analytic study

Jump to SectionDesignObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusion

Objectives

To investigate risk factors for developing dry eye in adult patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Secondarily, to assess severity of dry eye and tear profiles in these patients.

Jump to SectionDesignObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusion

Methods

This study was conducted from May 2011-June 2012. Seventy-eight adult patients who underwent HSCT for various hematologic disorders at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital were enrolled in this study. Two patients were excluded due to underlying lid abnormalities that might cause dry eye. Dry eye was diagnosed using standardized questionnaire, tear break-up time, Schirmer test and fluorescein and rose bengal staining. Of 76 patients, 40 patients (52.6%) had dry eye and they served as the case group. Thirty-six patients who did not meet the criteria served as the control group. Patient's charts were reviewed for clinical data, HSCT details and complications. The main outcome measures were dry eye occurrence, severity and tear profiles.

Jump to SectionDesignObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusion

Results

24 of 48 patients (50%) who received allografts and 16 of 28 patients (57.1%) who received autografts had dry eye after HSCT. Peripheral blood was used as stem cell source in 96% of the patients. Dry eye manifestation was found to be positively correlated with age over 35 years, duration of systemic cyclosporine use and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of the oral cavity (P = .049, P = .010 and .002 respectively, by univariate analysis). Using binary logistic regression, we found only chronic oral GVHD to be strongly associated with dry eye occurrence (P = .006, odds ratio= 9.15, 95% CI 1.91-43.87). Fluorescein and rose bengal staining were classified in significantly higher grading in allogeneic than the autologous group (P < .001 and P = .007 respectively, Mann-Whitney Test). Of 18 patients who had severe dry eye, 13 (72.2%) were in allogeneic and 5 (27.8%) were in autologous group.

Jump to SectionDesignObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusion

Conclusion

Dry eye is a very common ocular manifestation after autologous and allogeneic HSCT, albeit more severe in allogeneic HSCT. In allogeneic transplant patients, close attention to the development of chronic oral GVHD may lead to early diagnosis of dry eye in these patients.