[Cutaneous manifestations of graft-versus-host disease]

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a severe complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. GvHD can arise at various time points: acute GvHD occurs during the first 100 days after transplantation in up to 50% of graft recipients. Chronic GvHD develops less frequently in about 30% after the 3rd month following transplantation involving the skin, the liver, the gastrointestinal tract, the eyes, and the neuromuscular apparatus. Early diagnosis of GvHD can be difficult, as drug reactions, viral infections and cutaneous reactions to radiation therapy may have clinical and histological similarities. In this review, the various cutaneous manifestations of GvHD, the histopathologic features, prophylaxis, and therapies of acute and chronic GvHD are discussed according to the recent literature.