Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognostic Factors

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and associated infections are major determinants of late morbidity and mortality in 25–50% of long-term survivors of allogeneic marrow transplantation [1]. With improving supportive care during transplant, broadening criteria for donor selection and expanding indications and numbers of centers for transplant, an increasing number of long-term survivors are reported [2–4]. For primary care hematologists and oncologists, recognizing and treating late complications is of increasing importance. The following reviews the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of chronic GVHD.