title: Graft-versus-host disease of the vulva and/or vagina: diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: We describe a series of women after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with vaginal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) who were treated with topical cyclosporine, surgery, or both. We reviewed the medical charts of 11 women who presented with vaginal pain, discomfort, and vaginal scarring (inability to perform a Papanicolaou test or have vaginal intercourse because of pain). Vaginal symptoms develop an average of 10 months from bone marrow transplantation. Symptoms and physical findings include excoriated and ulcerated mucosa, thickened mucosa, narrowed introitus, and obliterated introitus from dense scar tissue that does not resolve with systemic or topical estrogens. The severity of symptoms and the physical findings in our study population did not correlate with age, type of leukemia, type of transplant, or severity or acute or chronic GVHD. Excoriated mucosa and moderately thickened mucosa were successfully treated with topical cyclosporine. Extensive synechiae and complete obliteration of the vaginal canal required surgical lysis with postoperative topical cyclosporine. Vaginal GVHD can successfully be treated with topical cyclosporine when mild to moderate disease is present. Surgical lysis with topical cyclosporine is required when more severe disease ensues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Medical Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Spiryda
authors.forename: Marc R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Laufer
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Soiffer
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Antin
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine