The characteristics of changes in skeletal muscle cross-sectional area after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

 The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in skeletal muscle cross-sectional area after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The study included 15 patients who underwent computed tomography before and after stem cell transplantation. The gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, rectus femoris, rectus abdominis, abdominis lateralis, and paraspinal muscles were analyzed. After transplantation, the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and rectus femoris muscles showed significantly reduced cross-sectional area and demonstrated fatty degeneration. Although no fatty degeneration was observed, cross-sectional area was reduced in the paraspinal muscles. Changes in skeletal muscle early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation differed among muscle types. Our findings suggested that paraspinal muscle groups, although classified as antigravity muscles, also exhibit atrophy similar to that in lower limb skeletal muscles.