Diagnosis and differentiation of late non-infectious pulmonary complications after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

The role of pulmonary function monitoring after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the prognostic significance of detected airflow impairment are discussed by the authors. The purpose of the work is also to clarify the nomenclature and diagnostic criteria of non-infectious pulmonary complications after allotransplant. The incidence and diagnostic criteria of representative conditions, as bronchiolitis obliterans and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia are presented. The significance of radiologic findings, bronchoscopy and lung biopsy in diagnostic strategy is also discussed. We believe that the presented review of the current multidisciplinary knowledge on late non-infectious pulmonary complications in patients after stem cell transplantation may be useful in improving the quality of long-term care of those patients.