title: Clinicopathologic characteristics of cutaneous chronic graft-versus-host diseases: a retrospective study in Korean patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a major complication in long-term survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Cutaneous manifestations are frequently the presenting features; therefore, the dermatologist needs to be aware of the wide spectrum of cutaneous cGVHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated patients' characteristics, clinical, and histological features of cutaneous cGVHD and analyzed factors influencing the severity of cutaneous cGVHD in 100 Korean HSCT recipients between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical manifestations of cutaneous cGVHD mainly presented as lichenoid (60.0%), sclerodermoid (12.0%), or erythematous maculopapular (22.0%) patterns. Other less common findings included xerosis, dyspigmentation, acquired ichthyosis, eczema, exfoliative dermatitis, alopecia, erythema multiforme-like or keratosis pilaris-like eruption. Among 100 patients, 46 patients were investigated for nail involvement, and 29 (63.0%) of them were accompanied with nail abnormalities. Histologically, characteristic lichenoid lesions were observed in 53%, sclerodermoid in 9%, and acute/chronic overlap syndrome in 28% of patients. We also discovered that HSCT from female donors to male recipients increased the severity of cutaneous cGVHD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report a large study about cutaneous cGVHD in Asian patients. Cutaneous cGVHD presented with a wide spectrum of clinical and histological manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Ji
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jung-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Baik-Kee
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult