Graft versus host disease (pulmonary manifestations)

Pulmonary graft versus host disease (GvHD) is one of the thoracic manifestations that can complicate hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Pulmonary GvHD can be broadly divided into acute and chronic disease ^1-4:

• acute pulmonary GvHD
  • pulmonary involvement is rare
  • the median time of onset of respiratory symptoms is around five months
  • reported radiological features include ³
    • mild perihilar or diffuse interstitial fibrosis
    • pulmonary cysts
    • pulmonary nodules
• chronic pulmonary GvHD
  • usually presents as a bronchiolitis obliterans and/or organising pneumonia 
  • pulmonary fibrosis (non-classifiable interstitial pneumonia) ⁶

See also

• graft versus host disease
• thoracic complications of haematopoetic stem cell transplantation