Symptoms of Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

Chronic graft-versus-host reaction (GVHD) remains the leading complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, affecting many organs and systems, and is characterized by a combination of auto- and alloimmune dysregulation, immune deficiency and impaired quality of life. According to statistics, the incidence of chronic GVHD with allogeneic transplants is 30-70% in adults and 15-40% in children. Difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic GVHD are associated with the problems of unifying the assessment of the lesion and its severity.

The leading Israeli clinic Tel Aviv Medical Clinic employs real professionals in their field, who have been engaged in the identification and treatment of various pathologies for more than 10 years. Our department is equipped with the latest equipment, which makes it possible to use innovative methods of therapy. The clinic has established rates at the state level. Thus, you get quality services for which you pay less. Our staff will help you contact charities to raise funds for treatment.

Symptoms of the disease

The clinic’s specialists identify the following forms of pathology: 

• acute, which appears in the first 100 days after transplantation; 
• chronic, which develops at a later date. Severe forms of acute GVHD are life-threatening; chronic GVHD relatively rarely leads to the death of a patient, but worsens the quality of life and can lead to disability.

The likelihood of developing severe forms of GVHD depends on many factors, among which incomplete tissue compatibility between the donor and the recipient plays the most important role. It must be remembered that the earlier a pathology is detected, the easier it is to get rid of it. Therefore, if you experience the following symptoms of the disease, you should immediately consult a specialist: 

• Skin symptoms – rash and itching, peeling of the skin, loss of part of the skin, darkening of the skin, thickening of the skin texture, scarring that limits the mobility of joints, such as fingers; 
• Damage or loss of nails; 
• Hair loss;
• Joint stiffness; 
• Dryness and ulcers in the mouth and esophagus;
• Dry and red eyes; 
• In women, dryness of the vagina and other mucous membranes; 
• In men – shortening and changes in the penis;
• Cough, shortness of breath, wheezing; 
• Drying and scarring of the lungs; 
• Liver damage or failure; 
• Jaundice.

A qualified specialist will conduct the necessary research and prescribe therapy that will eliminate unpleasant symptoms.