title: Understanding graft-versus-host disease. Preliminary findings regarding the effects of exercise in affected patients.
abstract: Advances in this century regarding allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) have led to an expanding population of long-term survivors, many of whom suffer severe side effects, particularly those related to graft-versushost disease (GVHD), a potentially multi-systemic disorder caused by immunoeffector donor lymphocytes that destroy host tissues. The GVHD, especially in its chronic form (cGVHD), generates considerable morbidity and compromises the physical capacity of patients. We have reviewed the main pathophysiological aspects of the disease as well as the data available on the effects of exercise in GVHD, based on animal and human patient research. Although exercise training as an adjunct therapy to improve health outcomes after allo-HSCT shows promise (particularly, this lifestyle intervention can improve physical fitness and possibly immune function while attenuating fatigue), there is a need for more randomized control trials that focus specifically on GVHD.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (`i+12'), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiuza-Luces
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (`i+12'), Madrid, Spain.|Faculty of Health and Sport Science, Universidad de Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garatachea
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Center for Science, Health and Society, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (`i+12'), Madrid, Spain.|Universidad Europea Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucia
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064591:Allografts / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents