Supportive Care of the Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplant Patient

Hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (HSCT) is an effective therapy for a variety of malignant and nonmalignant conditions. Morbidity and mortality after HSCT are often due to toxicity of the conditioning regimen and resulting pancytopenia, acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD), and the complications of drug therapy. Early recognition and treatment of the complications of HSCT will keep morbidity and mortality to a minimum. The following chapter summarizes the pathophysiology, prevention and management of the noninfectious complications encountered by HSCT recipients.