免疫疾患と免疫療法
オープンアクセス

概要

Graft Versus Host Disease: From Mild to Life Threatening

Harada J. Schmidt

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a condition shown after organ transplantation. Where donor's immune cells in the transplant organ (graft) make antibodies against the patient's tissues (host) and attack vital organs include the skin, gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the liver. In GVHD, the transplanted cells treat the recipient's cells as foreign body. The donor's antibodies (grafted cell) then attack the new host. This is why this condition is called Graft versus host. GVHD can be mild, moderate, or severe, even life-threatening. Its symptoms are: skin rash, blisters, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and loss of appetite, jaundice or yellowing of the skin, (which may indicate liver damage), dry mouth, throat and other body surfaces. Older people have a higher risk of GVHD, compared with young people.