Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction and Exercise Intolerance in Children Treated with Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant—A Pilot Feasibility Study

Sarah L. West, Gillian White, Jessica E. Caterini, Tammy Rayner, Tal Schechter, Paul C. Nathan and Greg D. Wells
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Sarah L. West: Department of Biology, Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada
Gillian White: Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Jessica E. Caterini: Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Tammy Rayner: Radiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Tal Schechter: Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Paul C. Nathan: Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Greg D. Wells: Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: Haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is an intensive therapy for some pediatric hematological illnesses. Survivors are at risk for adverse effects including exercise intolerance. Peripheral tissue dysfunction may contribute to exercise intolerance; therefore, we examined the feasibility of a magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) protocol to evaluate skeletal muscle metabolism in children post-HSCT. We measured demographic characteristics, aerobic exercise capacity (YMCA protocol), and skeletal muscle function in response to exercise (MRS; Siemens 3T MRI) in five children post-allogeneic HSCT and five age/body mass index-matched healthy controls (HCs). The mean age (± standard deviation) of the HSCT group and HC group were 11 ± 1.2 and 12.8 ± 2.4 years, respectively. Children post-HSCT had a lower peak aerobic exercise capacity compared to HCs (27.8 ± 3.4 vs. 40.3 ± 8.1 mL kg −1 min −1 , respectively; p = 0.015). Exercise MRS testing protocols were successfully completed by all HSCT and HC participants; however, MRS-derived skeletal muscle metabolism variables were not different between the two groups. In conclusion, the use of exercise protocols in conjunction with MRS to assess peripheral skeletal muscle metabolism was achievable in children post-HSCT. In the future, larger studies should determine if skeletal muscle function is associated with exercise capacity in children post-HSCT.

Keywords: haematopoietic stem cell transplant; pediatric; exercise; muscle metabolism; exercise tolerance; magnetic resonance imaging (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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