Autoimmunity after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. A study of 53 long-term-surviving patients

Various autoantibodies were screened in 53 long-term survivors after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Among them, 40 displayed chronic graft-versus-host disease, with clinical features reminiscent of collagen diseases, especially scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, and autoimmune hepatitis. Antinuclear, anti-smooth muscle, antimitochondria, anti-liver kidney microsome, and antiepidermal antibodies were found at a frequency of 62.2%, 49.0%, 11.3%, 5.6%, and 11.3%, respectively. The screening for native anti-DNA, anti-extractable nuclear antigen, anticentromere, and anti-salivary gland duct antibodies was negative. The presence or absence of acute GVHD made no difference in the frequency of autoantibodies. No correlation between cutaneous hepatic involvement, sicca syndrome, scleroderma status, and autoantibodies could be established. Despite clinical features mimicking collagen vascular diseases, the biological autoimmune profile of GVHD was different. The precise role of autoimmunity in chronic GVHD remains to be defined.