Stroke before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a possible risk factor for post-transplant adverse outcomes

More than 50,000 hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are performed annually in the world for blood malignancies, solid tumors, aplastic anemia, primary immunodeficiency, autoimmune and metabolic diseases.Stroke occurs in 3% of patients over post-transplant period (about 1,500 cases annually), whereas 70% of them are at risk for unfavorable outcome in the next 1.5 years.The data on effects of preceding acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA) on the outcomes of subsequent HSCT are not presented in the literature.Our aim was to evaluate the effects of stroke occurring before HSCT on the transplant outcomes in patients with hematological diseases.