Complications of total-body irradiation in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: A review article

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation commonly known as bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or allogeneic BMT (using healthy blood stem cells from a donor) is the preferred therapeutic option for numerous blood-related conditions, both malignant and non-malignant. It is often the sole therapy strategy and essential for relapsed and refractory hematologic malignancies. There have studies regarding BMT on regimen containing total body irradiation (TBI) and a regimen without TBI. It is expected that TBI-based conditioning regimens provide better antitumor effects than chemotherapy regimens. The primary objective of TBI is to eradicate the recipient's bone marrow, facilitating the successful engraftment of donor bone marrow. Acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) is the principal indication for TBI in bone marrow transplantation.  Other diseases including Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), multiple myeloma (MM), etc., may benefit from TBI-based regimens; however, TBI use is associated with many side effects.The main complications of patients who underwent TBI-containing conditioning regimens in bone marrow transplantation are vomiting and nausea, with frequencies of approximately 66% and 35%, respectively. However, these events are easily managed. Acute complications include stomatitis, diarrhea, loss of appetite, temporary loss of taste, rash and asthenia. Moreover, veno-occlusive disease, interstitial pneumonitis, lung side effects, growth hormone deficiency, neurological side effects, cataracts, renal toxicity, endocrine impairments, and infertility are other complications in patients who underwent TBI-containing conditioning regimens in bone marrow transplantation. In review article, a complication of total-body irradiation in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation was assessed.