title: Is severe intestinal chronic graft-versus-host disease an indication for surgery? A report of two cases.
abstract: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) frequently complicates allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but small bowel involvement with obstruction is rarely observed. We report two patients who underwent allogeneic sibling HSCT and developed severe cGVHD involving the small bowel, causing unremitting obstructive symptoms and malnutrition despite maximal immunosuppression. Both patients underwent ileal resection and stricturoplasties. The first patient promptly improved, and remains asymptomatic 32 months after transplant. Three weeks after the resection of 90 cm of small bowel, the second patient developed leaking stricturoplasty and peritonitis, with a relapse of chronic myelogenous leukemia in accelerated phase. Later, an enterocutaneous fistula required additional small bowel resection and ileostomy. The patient subsequently died from pulmonary infection a few weeks after the last surgical procedure. Similar to inflammatory bowel disease, these two cases highlight that surgery may be a valuable option in patients who present with obstructive severe cGVHD refractory to aggressive immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Hospital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrée-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Latulippe
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carignan
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bélanger
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000209:etiology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications