Bone marrow transplants regain function

A Seattle study has found patients who undergo bone marrow or stem-cell transplants may experience declines in mental or physical skills.

A Seattle study has found patients who undergo bone marrow or stem-cell transplants may experience declines in mental or physical skills.Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center say any decline is largely temporary and most patients can expect a return to normal function within a year of their transplants.”In all areas, except coordination, function is back to normal within a year, most people do recover well from their transplant treatment,” said lead author, Karen L. Syrjala, head of biobehavorial sciences at Fred Hutchinson.”The results of this study have major implications for advising health care professionals, patients and their families about expectations after transplant.”Syrjala and colleagues from the University of Washington conducted what they believe was the first prospective, longitudinal research on the long-term effects of transplantation on cognition and coordination.The findings are published in Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology. (Sourc: Blood, Sept 2004)