64% of children readmitted to hospital after stem cell treatment

Research has revealed 64 per cent of children have been readmitted to hospital after stem cell transplants.

The majority of children undergoing stem cell treatment are readmitted to hospital within six months, according to a record review of 129 children from 2008 to 2011.
The study showed children were more likely to end up back on a hospital bed after receiving stem cell transplants from relatives or non-relatives, compared to those who received their own stem cells.  
In fact, the findings showed 79 per cent of patients readmitted to hospital received a transplant from related or unrelated donors, compared to 38 percent who received their own stem cells.
Fever without a documented source of infection accounted for 39 per cent of readmissions, while 24 per cent were for infections and 15 per cent related to gastrointestinal problems.
Dr Leslie Lehman, clinical director of pediatric stem cell transplantation at Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center, commented on the results.
She said: "We hope these findings can eventually lead to identifying a group of low-risk children who could be managed at local hospitals rather than transplant centers, reducing costs and inconvenience to families."