• Complications
• Infections
  
• Graft vs. Host Disease


• Long Term Side Effects of BMTs
o Cataracts

Journal Articles

• Infections in the Neutropenic Patient- New Views of an Old Problem, by Gerald R. Donowitz, Dennis G. Maki, Christopher J. Crnich, Peter G. Pappas and Kenneth V.I. Rolston, from Hematology, American Society of Hematology Education Program Book , 2001. This articles is an overview of various infections that strike neutropenic patients. It discusses antibiotic resistance, line-related infections, and fungal infections.

• Preventing Opportunistic Infections After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Practice Guidelines and Beyond, by Keith M. Sullivan, Clare A. Dykewicz, David L. Longworth, Michael Boeckh, Lindsey R. Baden, Robert H. Rubin and Kent A. Sepkowitz, from Hematology, American Society of Hematology Education Program Book , 2001. This review presents evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of infection after blood and marrow transplantation. Recommendations apply to all myeloablative transplants regardless of recipient (adult or child), type (allogeneic or autologous) or source (peripheral blood, marrow or cord blood) of transplant. Includes recommendations for hospital infection control (hand hygiene, room ventilation, health care worker and visitor policies), prevention of viral diseases (CMV, Herpes Zoster -- Shingles, Herpes Simplex Virus and community respiratory virus infections), prevention of fungal infections and prevention of bacterial and protozoal disease.

Aspergillus and Other Fungal Infections

• Voriconazole Compared with Liposomal Amphotericin B for Empirical Antifungal Therapy in Patients with Neutropenia and Persistent Fever by Walsh, Thomas J., et. al., New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 346, No. 4, January 24, 2002, pages 225-234. (The full article is available for free 6 months after publication, the article abstract is available now.) This article describes a large, randomized trial comparing voriconazole, with liposomal amphotericin B as for suspected fungal infections in 837 patients with persistent fever and neutropenia.

Bacterial Infections

• Viridans Streptococcal Bacteremia After Chemotherapy and Autologous Stem Cell Rescue, by Bilgrami, S., and Feingold, J.from Infections in Medicine, March, 2000, Volume 17, Number 3, Discusses the treatment and prevention of Streptococcus viridans bacteremia after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue.

• Early Gram-Positive Bacteremia in BMT Recipients: Impact of Three Different Approaches to Antimicrobial Prophylaxis, article abstract from Bone Marrow Transplantion Volume 21, No. 2, pages 173-180, 1998, by Arns da Cunha C, et al and editorial comment by John N. Greene.

Candidiasis

• Infections in Oncology Disseminated Candidiasis Complicating Treatment of acute Leukemia, From Infections in Medicine, Sherri L. Sanders, MD, John N. Greene, MD, & Ramon L. Sandin, MD. Discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of Candidiasis in patients being treated for acute leukemia.

Viral Infections

• MEDLINE Abstracts: Hematuria After Bone Marrow Transplantation. Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a common problem after bone marrow and stem cell transplants. This article is a listing of abstract on causes and treatments for HC caused by viruses, in particular cytomegalovirus (CMV), adenovirus, and polyoma BK virus (BKV).

• Use of Intravenous Immune Globulin in Addition to Antiviral Therapy in the Treatment of CMV Gastrointestinal Disease in Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant Patients: A Report From the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT): Infectious Diseases Working Party of the EBMT, article abstract from Bone Marrow Transplantion Volume 21, No. 5, pages 473-476, 1998, by Ljungman P, et al and editorial comment by John N. Greene.

General Articles

Aspergiillus

• Aspergillus Web Site from The Fungal Research Trust. This site provides loads of information on different types of Aspergillus, treatments and current research.

• Nosocomial Pulmonary Aspergillosis from the article Guideline for Prevention of Nosocomial Pneumonia from the Hospital Infection Program of the Centers for Disease Control. This article is more about diagnosis and prevention of aspergillosis then about its treatment, but there is some information on treatment as well.
  

Long Term Side Effects of BMTS

Cataracts

Cataracts are a common long term side effect of BMTs, particularily from long term steroid use and radiation. Information around the net on cataracts is hard to find, most of it is directed towards older patient and the information is very basic.

• Cataract in Adults: A Patient's Guide from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR).