TY - JOUR
T1 - Rehabilitation of chronic graft versus host disease in children. A clinical series
AU - Carenzio, G.
AU - Gherardi, P.
AU - Bardoni, M. T.
AU - Zecca, M.
AU - Bonetti, F.
AU - Locatelli, F.
AU - Dalla Toffola, E.
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - The study was aimed at evaluating clinical and functional assessment and results obtained following rehabilitative treatment in children affected by chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) after allogeneic transplantation of hemopoietic stem cells (HSCT). From 1999 to 2003 we evaluated 6 children with cGVHD after HSCT presenting severe complications and disabilities. Clinical and functional assessment was performed prior to rehabilitative treatment (T1), at follow-up at 6 (T6) and 12 (T12) months after treatment. Each child received a personalized rehabilitative treatment program based on the use of neuromotor re-education techniques, massotherapy, chest rehabilitation and occupational therapy. Six children presented sclerodermoid skin lesions, joint contractures, anchylosis, respiratory insufficiency, postural and walking alterations which led to reduction in motor performance and autonomy in daily living activity. After 1 year of rehabilitation treatment, 3 patients showed improvement in motor performance, 2 remained stable and 1 patient worsened. Rehabilitative treatment associated with pharmacological therapy has proven to be useful in patients affected by cGVHD. We believe that cGVHD is a pathology which must be seen by a physiatrist as early as possible at onset of first cutaneous signs of cGVHD to limit its invalidating evolution.
AB - The study was aimed at evaluating clinical and functional assessment and results obtained following rehabilitative treatment in children affected by chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) after allogeneic transplantation of hemopoietic stem cells (HSCT). From 1999 to 2003 we evaluated 6 children with cGVHD after HSCT presenting severe complications and disabilities. Clinical and functional assessment was performed prior to rehabilitative treatment (T1), at follow-up at 6 (T6) and 12 (T12) months after treatment. Each child received a personalized rehabilitative treatment program based on the use of neuromotor re-education techniques, massotherapy, chest rehabilitation and occupational therapy. Six children presented sclerodermoid skin lesions, joint contractures, anchylosis, respiratory insufficiency, postural and walking alterations which led to reduction in motor performance and autonomy in daily living activity. After 1 year of rehabilitation treatment, 3 patients showed improvement in motor performance, 2 remained stable and 1 patient worsened. Rehabilitative treatment associated with pharmacological therapy has proven to be useful in patients affected by cGVHD. We believe that cGVHD is a pathology which must be seen by a physiatrist as early as possible at onset of first cutaneous signs of cGVHD to limit its invalidating evolution.
KW - Cell transplantation
KW - Child
KW - Graft vs host disease
KW - Hematopoietic stem cells
KW - Rehabilitation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=39049170307&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=39049170307&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 18084166
AN - SCOPUS:39049170307
VL - 43
SP - 445
EP - 450
JO - Europa Medicophysica
JF - Europa Medicophysica
SN - 0014-2573
IS - 4
ER -