Incidence and Risk Factors for Lower Alimentary Tract Mucositis After 1529 Courses of Chemotherapy in a Homogenous Population of Oncology Patients: Clinical and Research Implications

Lower alimentary tract mucositis is a serious complication of chemotherapy. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and mortality of lower alimentary tract mucositis in a homogeneous population of patients with newly diagnosed myeloma receiving similar antineoplastic therapy and standardized supportive care. Lower alimentary tract mucositis was evaluated among 303 consecutive patients with myeloma (2004-2007) enrolled in a clinical trial consisting of induction chemotherapy, tandem melphalan-based autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), and consolidation. Lower alimentary tract mucositis was defined as neutropenia-associated grade II-IV enteritis/colitis. Pretreatment risk factors were examined including body surface area (BSA), serum albumin (albumin), and estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl). Multiple logistic regression model was used to compute adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Forty-seven (15.5%) patients developed lower alimentary tract mucositis during 1529 courses of chemotherapy (including 536 melphalan-based ASCT). Pre-enrollment BSA