Engraftment and Engraftment Syndrome

After a stem cell transplant, engraftment is the process where the new stem cells begin to grow and make healthy blood cells in the patient’s bone marrow. However, as the new cells start working, some patients may experience engraftment syndrome—a temporary inflammatory reaction caused by the sudden release of immune signals (cytokines) during early recovery, during this time patients might get fever, retain fluid, need oxygen, and need closer monitoring

Signs of Engraftment Syndrome:

• Fever without infection

• Skin rash (often widespread)

• Fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema)

• Weight gain

• Organ changes (elevated liver or kidney markers)

Engraftment syndrome is usually treated with corticosteroids and close monitoring.

Graft Failure and Poor Graft Function

• Graft failure means the new stem cells don’t grow or produce blood cells as expected. This is rare but serious and may require another transplant or alternative treatment.

• Poor graft function means the cells grew but don’t work well enough, leading to low blood counts or ongoing transfusion needs.

Potential Complications

• Organ Toxicity: Damage to organs (like liver, kidneys, lungs) from chemotherapy, radiation, or immune reactions

• Infection: Increased risk due to a weakened immune system—can be bacterial, viral, or fungal

• Acute GVHD (Graft vs Host disease): When donor cells attack the patient’s body—often affects skin, gut, or liver

• TMA (thrombotic microangiopathy): A rare condition involving inflammation of small vessels in your body where small blood clots in the vessels won't let oxygen be delivered to the organs, it can also cause low platelets and anemia