Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation require special attention due to the aggressiveness of treatment. The aim of this study was to compare methods used to monitor nutritional status (including anthropometric methods of bioelectrical impedance analysis, dietary intake and biochemical control) and the frequency of nutritional evaluations in these patients. Weekly assessments were performed for six female and eleven male patients between day (D)-7 and D+28, divided into 5 time intervals. The height, weight, triceps skinfold (TS), arm circumference (AC), arm muscle circumference (AMC), percentage of weight loss (%WL), concentration of serum albumin, body mass index (BMI), total water balance (TWB) and control of intake were evaluated. Additionally, the percentages of lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM) and water (H2O) were assessed by electric bioimpedance. The average daily food intake was 1377 ± 582Kcal. Of the total, 76.47% (n = 13) of patients suffered weight loss with 57% (n = 8) of weight loss being classified as significant. Among the different anthropometric measurements, arm circumference was the most sensitive with significant differences between the 5 time intervals. Additionally, there were significant differences for the percentages of lean mass (p <0.05) and for fat mass (p <0.05). Using the Pearson correlation, significant differences (p <0.01) were calculated for the following variables: weight vs. AC, AC vs. TS, AC vs. AMC, AC vs. BMI, LM vs. FM, LM vs. H2O and H2O vs. TWB. According to the results, the percentage of weight loss in association with fortnightly DCT and CB assessments are the best way to monitor the nutritional status.
Anthropometry; body composition; weight and body measurements; bone marrow transplantation; hematopoetic stem cell transplantation
