GvHD
Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a complication that might occur after an allogeneic transplant. During an allogeneic transplant, the donated stem cells (graft) view the recipient’s cells (host) as an unfamiliar threat. As a result, the donated cells attack the recipient’s cells. This is why the disease is called “graft” versus “host.”
There are two main types of GvHD—acute and chronic.
Acute GvHD usually develops within the first 3 months after transplant. Many patients are still in or near the transplant center when acute GvHD is diagnosed. It usually affects:
Chronic GvHD develops more slowly than acute GvHD, typically within the first year after transplant. It can affect more organs and tissues and often follows acute GvHD, with about 2/3 of patients having had acute GvHD previously. It can affect many areas of the body:
Risk factors
The greatest risk factor for GvHD is the donor/recipient HLA match. You’re at higher risk if:
- Received stem cells from an HLA-mismatched donor who is related to you.
- Received stem cells from an HLA-matched donor who is not related to you.
Other risk factors include:
- A donor with a history of pregnancy.
- Advanced age of either the donor or recipient.
- Mismatched sex between donor and recipient (e.g., male donor, female recipient).
- Donor stem cells taken from the bloodstream instead of bone marrow.
Having experienced acute GvHD increases the risk of developing chronic GvHD.
