Part 4, Chapter 38: Graft‐versus‐host Disease
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Graft‐versus‐host Disease
Overview
Graft‐versus‐host disease is a major complication of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It is a multiorgan disease process that results from the action of donor‐derived immunocompetent T‐lymphocyte cells against antigens expressed on the cells of the immunocompromised recipient host. The main organs affected are the skin, liver and gastrointestinal tract. Acute, chronic and overlap forms are recognized.
Keywords Acute graft‐versus‐host disease, chronic graft‐versus‐host disease, overlap graft‐versus‐host disease, lichenoid graft‐versus‐host disease, sclerodermoid graft‐versus‐host disease, extracorporeal photopheresis