Pathophysiology and treatment of graft-versus-host disease

Acute graft-versus-host disease denotes a distinctive syndrome characterize d by a triad of dermatitis (rash), hepatitis (jaundice), and gastroenteriti s (abdominal pain, diarrhea) developing in the first 100 days after allogen eic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Chronic graft-versus-host disease d esignates a more diverse syndrome, usually presenting with multiorgan invol vement and commonly developing 100 days after hematopoietic cell transplant ation. This article discusses the pathophysiology, incidence and predictive factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and grading, prevention, and t reatment for both types of the disease.