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Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD); a Condition That Might Occur After An Allogeneic Transplant7/18/2022 Graft Versus Host Disease (GvHD) is life-threatening complication that can occur after certain stem cell or bone marrow transplants, or medical condition that might occur after an allogeneic transplant. GvHD is commonly associated with bone marrow and stem cell transplants. GvHD occurs when the donor’s T cells (the graft) view the patient’s healthy cells (the host) as foreign, and attack and damage them. It can be mild, moderate, or severe. The graft versus host disease (GvHD) usually goes away a year or so after the transplant, when body starts to make its own white blood cells from the donor cells. But some people have to manage it for years. Treatment includes medication to suppress the immune system, such as steroids.
However, the treatment of GvHD depends on the severity of the condition. Acute graft versus host disease is typically treated with a class of medication called glucocorticoids (steroids) and cyclosporine (immunosuppressive drugs). First line treatment of acute GvHD typically consists of steroids: either intravenous methylprednisolone or prednisone taken orally. Many patients are successfully treated with increased immunosuppression in the form of oral or intravenous steroid medicines. While, chronic Graft Versus Host Disease is usually treated with steroids and other treatments that help control the immune system. People will also be given treatment and support to manage any signs and symptoms. Graft Versus Host Disease is a multisystem immune disorder resulting from the transplantation of donor cells. The disease occurs when immune cells from the donor attack the host's tissues. Most commonly, GvHD affects the skin, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and lungs. The treatment of this condition depends on the severity and type of GvHD and the patient's circumstances. Although the cause of GvHD is unknown, donor-derived cells are frequently transplanted. The causes of GvHD are unclear, but recent studies have looked at how transplantation can increase the risk of developing the condition. Some studies have looked at the role of cytokine shields in allogenous bone marrow transplantation. Patients with chronic Graft Versus Host Disease take long-term immunosuppressive medications to prevent infections, which may lead to bacterial, fungal or viral infections. The treatment can take months or even years. More accurate DNA-level tests have been developed. Researchers hope to use them to develop better treatment for patients with chronic graft versus host disease. In the past, positron emission tomography has been used to map the disease activity and predict the effectiveness of treatment. While patients who undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation are at risk for developing graft versus host disease, the majority of cases occur during the first months post-transplant. In some cases, it can be life-threatening. GvHD is not rare. Up to 70 percent of transplant recipients develop acute GvHD, which crops up within the first few months of treatment, and 40 percent get chronic GvHD, the form that appears more than 100 days post-transplant. To prevent GvHD, recipients can be treated early after transplant with a drug called cyclophosphamide. This commonly used drug has long been thought to work by eliminating the disease-fighting T cells that turn against the recipient's body. It is often administered to transplant patients to reduce the risk of developing a life-threatening condition called graft versus host disease (GvHD).
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Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD); a Condition That Might Occur After An Allogeneic Transplant7/18/2022 |