Changes in Stem Cell Transplant activity and procedures during SARS-CoV2 pandemic in Italy: an Italian Bone Marrow Transplant Group (GITMO) nationwide analysis (TransCOVID-19 Survey).
Domenico RussoNicola PolverelliMichele MalagolaMirko FarinaAlessandro LeoniSimona BernardiSonia MammolitiNicoletta SacchiMassimo MartinoFabio Cicerinull nullPublished in: Bone marrow transplantation (2021)
The Transplant Centers belonging to Gruppo Italiano per il Trapianto di Midollo Osseo (GITMO) conducted a survey with the aim of evaluating the effect of SARS-CoV2 pandemic on the allogeneic transplant activity in Italy. The pandemic period from 1/3/2020 to 31/7/2020 was compared with the same period in 2019. Overall, in 2020 there was a 2.4% reduction in the number of allo-HCT cases compared to 2019. Interestingly, this deflection did not affect the acute leukemia cases (+5.7% in 2020). The use of peripheral blood-derived stem cells (+10.7%) and cryopreservation (97.4% of the centers) was highly adopted in 2020. Despite the sanitary emergency, almost all of the surveyed centers declared no impact of SARS-CoV2 pandemic on the transplant timing and outcomes, and the sanitary policy was positively evaluated by the majority of centers. The emergency measures ensured that only a minority of the allo-HCT patients had been infected by SARS-CoV2; however, a mortality of 42.1% among the allo-HCT patients hospitalized for COVID-19 was recorded. This survey gives us the information that the GITMO Group reacted positively to the pandemic. Thanks to the emergency strategies, the Italian allo-HCT activity continued safely, showing only a minor deflection and offering the same probability of cure to the transplanted patients.
Keyphrases
- sars cov
- stem cells
- coronavirus disease
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- end stage renal disease
- bone marrow
- public health
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- healthcare
- emergency department
- peritoneal dialysis
- prognostic factors
- metabolic syndrome
- patient reported outcomes
- escherichia coli
- low dose
- social media
- cell death
- cystic fibrosis
- mental health
- coronary artery disease
- risk factors
- cell cycle arrest
- signaling pathway
- biofilm formation