A Multidisciplinary Quality Initiative for Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma: Outpatient Transplant with Low Therapy Related Mortality
Authors: Gertz Morie Abraham , Ansell Stephen M , Dingli David , Dispenzieri Angela , Buadi Francis K. , Elliott Michelle A , Gastineau Dennis A , Hayman Suzanne R , Hogan William J , Inwards David J , Johnston Patrick B , Kumar Shaji , Lacy Martha Q , Leung Nelson , Micallef Ivana NM , Porrata Luis F , Schafer Barbara A , Wolf Robert C , Litzow Mark R 
Published: April 2020

Introduction: The Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) developed a multidisciplinary approach (involving physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and financial specialists) for outpatient management of patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. This approach uses an electronic ordering system for diagnostic tests and chemotherapy to minimize medical errors.

Table. Patient Characteristics (N=716)

Characteristic Value Male, no. of patients (%) 426 (59) Age, median (IQR), y 59 (53–65) Creatinine, median (IQR), mg/dL 1.0 (0.9–1.2) b2-Microglobulin, median (IQR), mcg/mL 2.5 (1.9–3.7) Gammopathies, no. of patients (%) Measured by serum immunofixation or immunoelectrophoresis IgA 148 (21) IgG 414 (58) IgM 6 (1) IgD 12 (2) Light chain 83 (12) Biclonal 6 (1) None 47 (7) Measured by urine immunofixation or immunoelectrophoresis k light chain 402 (56) l light chain 226 (32) Biclonal 1 (0) None 79 (11) Not performed (anuric) 8 (1) Status at stem cell transplant, no. of patients (%) Untreated 4 (1) Plateau 436 (61) Primary refractory 113 (16) Relapse after therapy 93 (13) Relapse during therapy 70 (10) Characteristic Value CD34+ cells, median (IQR), ×106/kg Collected, no. 10.0 (7.6–12.6) Infused, no. 4.7 (3.9–6.2) Sessions of apheresis, median (IQR) 3 (2–5) Engraftment, median (IQR), days after transplantation Neutrophils, 0.5×109/L 13 (12–15) Platelets, 50×109/L 16 (14–22) Duration of hospitalization, median (IQR), d 4 (0–10)

Abbreviation: IQR, interquartile range.

Results: During a 45-month period after implementation of the program (2005-Sept 2007), the day-100 survival rate was 99.5% for low-risk myeloma patients (transplantation during first plateau; n=202) and 97% for high-risk myeloma patients (refractory, relapsing or second or greater plateau; n=71). The overall day-100 survival rate was 99%(270/273). Analysis of hospitalization trends since inception of the program showed that 39% of patients completed the transplant procedure as outpatients. The median duration of hospitalization for all patients was 4 days; age and serum creatinine levels were predictive of the need for and duration of hospitalization

Conclusion: Outpatient stem cell transplantation is feasible for patients with multiple myeloma with a therapy mortality of 1%. Nearly 40% of our patients completed the procedure without hospitalization. Age and serum creatinine levels predicted a higher likelihood of hospitalization. Implementation of out patient transplant requires affordable housing in the community since many third party payers do not support hotel costs despite the reduction of hospital days. The hospital physical plant and patient registration process has to support use of designated hospital rooms for purely out patient practice. The transplant team must have process owners to standardize across all disease categories collection protocols, conditioning regimens, infusion SOP’s and post infusion supportive care guidelines for standard antibiotics, narcotics, laboratory work and transfusion thresholds. A care team meeting between physicians, nursing, dietary, pharmacy, business office, data base and appointment coordinators is essential to coordinate all the multidisciplinary efforts.

Kaplan-Meier curve shows the percentage of patients remaining in the hospital through time t, stratified on the basis of age greater than or less than or equal to 65 years Kaplan-Meier curve shows the percentage of patients remaining in the hospital through time t, stratified on the basis of age greater than or less than or equal to 65 years Kaplan-Meier curve shows the percentage of patients remaining in the hospital through time t, stratified on the basis of creatinine greater than or equal to or less than 1.5mg/dL Kaplan-Meier curve shows the percentage of patients remaining in the hospital through time t, stratified on the basis of creatinine greater than or equal to or less than 1.5mg/dL