Treating hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-related complications from the perspective of a debility state

In the ultra-intensive conditioning regimens for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), drug-related toxicity often leads to significant damage owing to individual differences. The extent of this damage far exceeds the traditional understanding of "consumption-exhaustion" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Based on theoretical elucidation and clinical efficacy, this paper discusses the treatment of post-transplantation-related complications from the perspective of the "debility state." First, the debility state was correlated with extreme weakness in patients after HSCT, and its connotation was explored through clinical symptoms. Second, the concept of the "discrete state," which describes a condition in which yin and yang are separated and out of balance, but not yet completely dissociated, is proposed as the severe stage of the debility state, akin to the Jueyin disease stage in TCM. Additionally, the relationship between the connotation of Jueyin disease in TCM and the stress state in Western medicine is discussed. Finally, a prescription is established, primarily consisting of the classic formulas Wumei Pill and Sini Decoction from the Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases, supplemented with Ziheche (human placenta), Lurong (deer velvet), and minerals and insect-derived medicines, which can nourish the kidney and restore yang. In summary, treating post-HSCT-related complications from the perspective of the debility state is feasible and practical.