Ultrasound reliable for muscle measurements after allo-HSCT

Ultrasound is a dependable tool for monitoring loss of muscle mass in recipients of allogeneic haemoatopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), a recent study has found.

Researchers conducted a prospective observational study of 68 patients (mean age 49.5 years, 60.3 percent men) who had undergone their first allo-HSCT. Outcomes included the thickness of the biceps, quadriceps, and suprahyoid muscles, as measured by ultrasound imaging. Assessments were conducted by three independent evaluators at baseline and at 30, 90, and 180 days after transplantation.

Bicep thickness significantly decreased from baseline to day 90 and day 180 after transplantation (18.6 to 16.7 and 16.9; p<0.001 for both comparisons). Similarly, the thickness of the vastus intermedius muscle significantly declined by days 30, 90, and 180 as compared with baseline (22.5 to 20.3, 19.1, and 18.9; p<0.001 for all). The thickness of the rectus femoris muscle complex also decreased from baseline, though change values did not reach statistical significance.

Inter-rater reliability for muscle thickness muscles was high among the three evaluators. Interclass correlation values for the bicep muscles were 0.966 at baseline, 0.977 at day 30, 0.965 at day 90, and 0.964 at day 180. Corresponding values for the vastus intermedius and rectus femoris muscle complex were 0.962, 0.968, 0.975, and 0.977.

“In conclusion, we found that ultrasound measurement of muscle mass is a reliable and valid tool for allo-HSCT recipients and may be useful particularly when we were not able to assess physical ability,” the researchers said. “Further studies are needed to clarify the association between ultrasound measurements and physical ability.”