Thrombotic complications after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation : early and late effects

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the only curative option for many haematological malignancies, but is characterized by a wide spectrum of complications, including haemostatic changes. Bleeding and thrombotic events occur in the early and late phases after transplantation. In the early phase, thrombotic events have a variable clinical picture and present either as venous thrombosis, mainly at the site of central venous lines, veno-occlusive disease (also known as sinusoid occlusion syndrome) or transplant-associated microangiopathy. The latter two occur in the context of an acute graft-vs-host reaction, which involves various organs including the endothelium. In the late phase, years or decades after transplantation, thrombotic events present either as common venous thromboses or as arterial occlusions because of the development of premature atherosclerosis combined with diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia, all of which are accelerated under the influence of the post-transplant treatment. This chapter will discuss the incidence, possible causative associations and treatment options of early and late thrombotic events after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.