Review of Graft-Versus-Host Disease

• Published in: Dermatologic clinics Vol. 37; no. 4; pp. 569 - 582
• Main Authors: Ramachandran, Vignesh, Kolli, Sree S., Strowd, Lindsay C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Acute; Acute Disease; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Chronic; Chronic Disease; Dermatology; Graft vs Host Disease - complications; Graft vs Host Disease - immunology; Graft vs Host Disease - therapy; Graft-versus-host disease; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Immunotherapy, Adoptive - methods; Management; Skin Diseases - etiology; Skin Diseases - immunology; Skin Diseases - pathology; Skin Diseases - therapy; Systemic; T-Lymphocytes - transplantation; Topicals; Transplantation Conditioning; Transplantation, Homologous; Treatment; Trials; Graft-versus-host disease; Chronic; Topicals; Trials; Treatment; Acute; Systemic; Management
• ISSN: 0733-8635; 1558-0520; 1558-0520
• DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2019.05.014

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is an adverse immunologic phenomenon following allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Cutaneous manifestations are the earliest and most common presentation of the disease. This article describes the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options available for acute and chronic GVHD. Acute and chronic GVHD result from an initial insult triggering an exaggerated inflammatory cascade. Clinical presentation for cutaneous acute GVHD is limited to maculopapular rash and oral mucosal lesions, whereas chronic GVHD can also include nail, scalp, and genitalia changes. Diagnosis is often made clinically and supported by biopsy, laboratory and radiology findings.