Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

This page was written by Shelley Ensz and has not yet been medically edited. See disclaimer.

Overview of GVHD
Causes of GVHD
Diagnosis of GVHD

Treatments for Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)
GVHD Patient Stories
Research for GVHD

Overview of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD) is an autoimmune response to foreign cells, such as from skin grafting, bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants, blood transfusions, or organ transplants.

What is GVHD? When you receive a donor's stem cells (the “graft”), their job is to recreate the donor's immune system in your body (the “host”). Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is the term used when this new immune system attacks your body. Your donor's cells see your body as “foreign” and attack it––causing damage. GVHD most commonly affects the skin, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) related polymyositis. Chronic GVHD sometimes mimics autoimmune diseases. We report the case of a 39-year-old patient who presented atypical polymyositis without elevated creatinine phosphokinase, related to a chronic GVHD following interruption of immunosuppressive treatment. (SpringerLink) H. Maillard – Lefebvre. January 13 2010. (Also see: Research on Polymyositis).

Sclerodermatous Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease—A Report of Four Pediatric Cases. There was a significantly higher mortality rate observed in this series compared with previous reports, with three of the four patients dying ultimately as a result of sclerodermatous variant of chronic graft-versus-host disease. The development of widespread ulceration, in two of the four patients, appeared to be associated with an overall deterioration in the clinical condition. Pediatric Dermatology, Volume 25, Number 2, March/April 2008.

Lichen sclerosus and eosinophilic fasciitis as manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host disease: expanding the sclerodermoid spectrum. We describe 6 patients, all of whom developed LS and two of whom also developed EF in the context of chronic GVHD. Although all patients eventually developed morpheaform and/or sclerodermoid GVHD, LS was a prominent part of the initial presentation of chronic cutaneous GVHD in every case. PubMed. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Oct;53(4):591-601. (Also see: Lichen Sclerosus and Eosinophilic Fasciitis)

Causes of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

Autoimmune-like disease post-bone marrow transplantation. Chronic graft-vs-host disease is the major complication after bone marrow transplantation and mimics some autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma, sicca syndrome, primary biliary cirrhosis and an increased prevalence of various autoantibodies. PubMed. Rev Med Interne. 2004 Jul;25(7):514-523. (Also see: Stell Cell Transplants)

Impaired thymic negative selection causes autoimmune graft-versus-host disease. These results demonstrate that impaired thymic negative selection can cause lethal autoimmune disease indistinguishable from acute GVHD in the context of a proinflammatory milieu when peripheral regulatory mechanisms are absent. PubMed. Blood 2003 Mar 27

Diagnosis of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

Cutaneous gene expression by DNA microarray in murine sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease, a model for human scleroderma. These constellations of immunologic changes provide a "fingerprint" for fibrosing autoimmune disease. They are useful to understand the pathogenesis of Scl GVHD, to identify markers for early diagnosis of disease, and to devise more effective strategies for intervention in early scleroderma and Scl GVHD. PubMed. J Invest Dermatol. 2007 Feb;127(2):281-92. (Also see: Skin Fibrosis)

A Pediatric Case of Sclerodermatous Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease. In the future, clarification of the pathogenesis of chronic GVHD and establishment of therapy will be necessary. PubMed. Pediatr Dermatol. 2003 Jul-Aug;20(4):327-31.

Bullous scleroderma-like changes in chronic graft-versus-host disease. Chronic cutaneous GVHD is categorized according to the type of skin lesions into lichenoid and sclerodermoid variants, but bullous scleroderma-like changes are exceptional. PubMed. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2003 Mar;17(2):200-3.

Treatments for Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

Effect of Increased Pigmentation on the Antifibrotic Response of Human Skin to UV-A1 Phototherapy. Clinical responses of sclerotic skin to UV-A1 phototherapy were modest because of UV-A1–induced skin darkening, which is photoprotective and attenuates antifibrotic responses. Arch Dermatol. 2008;144(7):851-858. (Also see: Morphea)

New Treatments Fight Graft-versus.-Host-Disease (GVHD) In Bone Marrow Transplant Patients. Using anti-inflammatory proteins in combination with steroids has yielded a response rate of over two-thirds, twice the traditional rate of complete response. Medical News Today. 02/06/07.

Patient Stories for Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

Blog: Jackie Sue We Love You. Jackie has GVHD. THe blog covers her progress after her mini-allo MUD transplant. Her transplant was the first one to be performed by the Mayo Clinic. Bruce and Jackie.

Klaas: Scleroderma Graft-vs-Host Disease (GVHD) So I would like to know if, and when, I will be able to walk again...

(Spanish/Español) Klaas: Sclerodermia da GVHD Essiste un modo per capire se ci sono delle speranze e quali sono...

(Italiano) Fabiola: Paziente Affetta da Sclerodermia Morphea Dopo 5 anni si e' svegliata una sclero conseguenza pero' della GVHD (Graft Versus Host Disease) che viene dopo il trapianto di midollo...

Research for Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

Stem Cell Finding Could Help Reduce Transplant Rejection. A new study involving a type of stem cells from the lungs of transplant patients demonstrates for the first time that these progenitor cells reside in adult organs and are not derived from bone marrow, which leads to the possibility that the cells may be able to help with the rejection of donated organs. Newswise. University of Michigan Health System. 03/08/07. (Also see: Pulmonary Fibrosis )