High pre-transplant serum ferritin and busulfan-thiotepa conditioning regimen as risk factors for hepatic sinusoidal obstructive syndrome after autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with malignant lymphoma

Few studies have evaluated the risk factors for hepatic sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS) in patients with malignant lymphoma receiving autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). We retrospectively analyzed 132 malignant lymphoma patients who underwent ASCT. Intravenous busulfan-based conditioning regimens were used in 108 (81.8%) patients. The combination of heparin and ursodeoxycholic acid was used for prophylaxis of SOS. Hepatic SOS was developed in 10 (7.6%) patients at a median of 30 days post-ASCT. In nine (90.0%) patients, SOS was diagnosed after 20 days post-ASCT. Two patients developed severe SOS and eventually died from multiple organ failure. In multivariate analysis, the use of the busulfan-thiotepa conditioning regimen (p = 0.003) and a high pre-transplant serum ferritin level (≥ 950 ng/mL) (p = 0.003) were risk factors for hepatic SOS. The evaluation of pre-transplant serum ferritin may be helpful in determining the most appropriate conditioning regimen with a lower risk of SOS.