Pathophysiology and treatment of graft-versus-host disease

Acute graft-versus-host disease denotes a distinctive syndrome characterized by a triad of dermatitis (rash), hepatitis (jaundice), and gastroenteritis (abdominal pain, diarrhea) developing in the first 100 days after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Chronic graft-versus-host disease designates a more diverse syndrome, usually presenting with multiorgan involvement and commonly developing 100 days after hematopoietic cell transplantation. This article discusses the pathophysiology, incidence and predictive factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and grading, prevention, and treatment for both types of the disease.