The effect of bone marrow transplantation with chemotherapy conditioning regimen on growth

After bone marrow transplantation (BMT) survival of many patients are increased. Due to the increase in survival, medical evaluation of endocrine functions are necessary. Previous studies have showed that growth and development disorders are caused not only by total body irradiation, but also by cytotoxic drugs conditioning regimens. In this study, 12 children (prepuberty: P1G1), 4 female, 8 male, aged 3.5-10 years (mean: 6±2 years) evaluated for growth in prepubertal phase, before and 6, 12, 24 months after bone marrow transplantation by “Little” Busulfan-cyclophosphamide conditioning regimen. Growth velocity in children obviously increased in 12 months after bone marrow transplantaion. Growth velocity was 103.5 cm/y, growth velocity SD was 4.314.21, after one year. Height SDS increased from –1.41.2 before BMT to -0.51.3 after 12 months (P<0.004) and weight was 206 kg before BMT and 269.5 kg in 12 months after BMT. This method of BMT not only did not cause growth failure but also relatively caused an increase in the height.