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Graft-versus-host disease - Symptom

Alternative Names

GVHD

Symptoms:

Symptoms in both acute and chronic GVHD range from mild to severe.

Common acute symptoms include:

Chronic symptoms may include:

Dry eyes and dry mouth
Hair loss
Hepatitis
Lung and digestive tract disorders
Skin rash

In both acute and chronic GVHD, the patient is very vulnerable to infections.

Signs and tests:

The tests done usually depend on the symptoms, but may include:

Gastrointestinal endoscopy, with or without a biopsy
Liver function tests (AST, ALP, and bilirubin levels will be increased)
Liver biopsy (if the patient only has liver symptoms)
Lung x-rays
Skin biopsy

Antibodies

Reviewed last on: 7/11/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Hoffman R, Benz Jr. EJ, Shattil SJ, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingston; 2005:1783-92.

Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: pp. 278-9.

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