Coronary artery calcification score as a prognostic factor in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation – a retrospective analysis

Abstract Background Coronary artery calcification (CAC) scoring can be measured as a by-product of computed tomography (CT). CAC scoring reflects the general cardiovascular risk profile of patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the prognostic role of CAC on overall survival (OS) in patients with different hematological diseases undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation between January 2015 and October 2021. A total of 121 patients (68 male patients, 56.1%) with a mean age of 53.1 ± 13.6 years were identified in the data base and included into the present study. The clinical CT scan to rule out infectious foci was used to assess the CAC score for each patient. The semiquantitative Weston score was measured to quantify CAC. Results A total of 67 patients (54.9%) died during the course of the study. A total of 52 patients (42.6%) had visible calcifications on CT images, whereas 70 patients (57.4%) had no calcifications (CAC score 0). There was no association between the CAC score with OS, with an HR of 1.14 (95% CI 0.89; 1.45), p = 0.28) as a metric variable and HR of 1.33 (95% CI 0.82; 2.15) as a dichotomized variable (CAC score 0 versus positive CAC score). There was no association between CAC score and occurrence of sepsis or graft-versus host disease after transplantation. Conclusions The presence of CT-defined coronary calcifications has no prognostic relevance in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell therapy. The impact of CT-defined cardiovascular risk factors appears to be relatively modest in this heterogeneous patient sample.