Review of therapies for the treatment of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease.
Oral chronic graft-versus-host disease is a frequent complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, contributing to patient morbidity and mortality. Although an optimal treatment is not available, several systemic and topical or local therapies have shown efficacy in treating the disease. New therapies are being tested through clinical trials. This article examines the efficacy and safety of reported treatment modalities studied from 2006-2012. Nurses will encounter patients with oral chronic graft-versus-host disease suffering from pain, discomfort, and a decreased quality of life. Knowledge of new therapies found to be effective in managing these symptoms is imperative. Nurses play a key role in the assessment and management of this complex oral disease.
School of Nursing and Health Studies in the Department, Nursing at Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
Margaret Harvey
MH
Granitto
School of Nursing and Health Studies in the Department, Nursing at Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
Jane M
JM
Fall-Dickson
School of Nursing and Health Studies in the Department, Nursing at Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
Colleen K
CK
Norton
School of Nursing and Health Studies in the Department, Nursing at Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
Colleen
C
Sanders
D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*
allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; clinical trials; oral chronic graft-versus-host disease