Zaina Inam, MD, on Transplant Outcomes in Pediatric Patients With SCD

Dr. Inam, of Children’s National Hospital, joined Heme Today to discuss her study, “Impact of Pre-HSCT RBC Alloimmunization on Post-HSCT Outcomes in Pediatric Patients With SCD,” presented at the 2024 American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Conference.

The retrospective, cohort study evaluated transplant outcomes in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) who had a history of red blood cell alloimmunization versus those who did not have a history of alloimmunization.

“Our specific focus was looking at post-transplant transfusion for both red cells and platelets,” Dr. Inam said. “We also wanted to look at transplant outcomes such as graft failure, high-grade acute [graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)], and chronic GVHD.”

Dr. Inam and colleagues found that high-grade acute GVHD was significant in those who were alloimmunized compared with those who were not.

“It was a little surprising to us because we thought maybe we would see higher transfusion post-transplant,” Dr. Inam said.

Dr. Inam and colleagues only analyzed matched related donor transplant, but she hopes to study alternative donor transplant next to see if there are similar incidents of high-grade acute GVHD with those who are alloimmunized versus those who are not.