Bleeding frequency during physiotherapy in thrombocytopenic patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Background: During hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) the patients perform activities of low and moderate intensity because have reduced hematological lineages, leaving them susceptible to hemorrhagic events. The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of bleeding events, severity, and possible association with physical exercise in thrombocytopenic patients.

Methods: A retrospective study with seventy-seven HSCT patients hospitalised, that had a platelet count ≤ 50,000 /μL and received physical exercise during physiotherapy intervention.

Results: Regarding bleeding events, only six were related to physical exercise, and bleeding events occurred more frequently at platelet levels ≤ 10,000 /μL. The most frequent bleeding event was epistaxis, considered of low severity, and with the moderate possibility of being related to physical exercise; followed by extremity hematoma, considered of medium severity and highly related to physical exercise. In this study, there was no occurrence of bleeding events considered of high severity.

Conclusion: Bleeding frequency in supervised physical exercise during physiotherapy in adults with thrombocytopenia undergoing HSCT is minor and relatively rare but occurs more frequently in patients with platelet count ≤10,000 /μL. These results encourage the maintenance of physical activity in this population who is at high risk of developing immobility-related complications.

Fig 1. Number of patients, number of adverse events and number of bleeding-related or not to physical exercise.