Purpose: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of the major complications of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Twenty-two patients, who had an allogeneic bone marrow transplantion at the Institute J. Bordet, developed a GVHD proven by a biopsy.
Results: Twenty-two cases of GVHD were registered; 17 of these patients suffered from the acute form of the disease. All the patients presented the characteristic skin lesions, usually associated with other organ involvement. Most of the cases suffered from relapse after a time-limited response or from resistance to therapy, despite an effective treatment. Uncontrolled GVHD led to the death of two patients.
Conclusion: GVHD is a frequent pathology that significantly contributes to the morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow transplantation, despite appropriate management. Recognition of clinical and histopathological features of GVHD is important for dermatologists involved in the care of bone marrow transplant patients. Actually, bone marrow transplantation is now easily and more frequently performed than in the past.