Pathology of graft-versus-host disease in the gastrointestinal tract.
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a common complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, is a clinical syndrome that requires synthesis of clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic findings for diagnosis. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is commonly affected, and pathologists must recognize subtle morphologic alterations in GI mucosal biopsies to make the diagnosis and to rule out other causes of GI dysfunction such as cytomegalovirus infection and drug effects. This review summarizes the histopathologic features of GVHD in the GI tract and outlines recent recommendations for reporting of GI biopsies with suspected GVHD.
Washington
Kay
K
Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. kay.washington@vanderbilt.edu
Jagasia
Madan
M
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000145:classification; D017209:Apoptosis; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000145:classification; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D065227:Transfusion Reaction