Insulin-related Metabolism Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Childhood

Objectives: To assess insulin-related metabolism following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in childhood.

Study Design: Thirty-four patients who underwent HSCT were compared with 21 patients with similar diseases who were not transplanted. Median follow-up was 3.6 yr after HSCT. Anthropometric parameters, fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels, hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) and lipid profile were measured and compared.

Results: HbA(1c) was significantly higher (p = 0.001) in the study group. Two (5.8%) patients in the study group developed type 2 diabetes mellitus. Among thalassemic patients, significantly lower insulin resistance indices (p = 0.05) and fasting plasma insulin levels (p = 0.033) were found in the study group compared with the control group.

Conclusions: Attentive follow-up of insulin-related metabolism following HSCT in children is needed. The significance of the higher HbA1c values in the study group remains to be evaluated in a larger cohort of patients.