Intended for US residents only
Intended for US residents only
Chronic GVHD is an immune response triggered by donor cells reacting to their new home in your body. One of the key differences between acute GVHD and chronic GVHD is that chronic GVHD tends to develop and progress more subtly and slowly.
In fact, many transplant patients are not diagnosed with chronic GVHD until the organ damage is irreversible. However, some patients have symptoms that may be caught early, such as itching or a rash. That’s why it’s important for you to actively monitor for any signs and symptoms of chronic GVHD 100 days after transplant—and beyond.
It’s also important to keep in close contact with your care team and keep them up-to-date on any new or existing symptoms you may have. If your care team can catch chronic GVHD early, they may be able to help prevent progression of the disease before it can interfere with your daily activities.
“The best practice for managing cGVHD is through timely identification and management.”
Corey S. Cutler, MD, MPH
GVHD Expert
Signs and symptoms of chronic graft-versus-host disease
Click on the icons below to learn more about symptom areas.
Eyes
Mouth and Throat
Lungs
Digestive System
Genitals
Skin, Nails, and Hair
Joints and Muscles
Eyes
Mouth and Throat
Lungs
Digestive System
Genitals
Skin, Nails, and Hair
Joints and Muscles
Eyes
Mouth and Throat
Lungs
Digestive System
Genitals
Skin, Nails, and Hair
Joints and Muscles
Eyes
Mouth and Throat
Lungs
Digestive System
Genitals
Skin, Nails, and Hair
Joints and Muscles
Eyes
Mouth and Throat
Lungs
Digestive System
Genitals
Skin, Nails, and Hair
Joints and Muscles
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Eyes
Mouth and Throat
Lungs
Digestive System
Genitals
Skin, Nails, and Hair
Joints and Muscles
Contact your transplant team right away if you notice any of these signs or symptoms or if new ones develop after you start treatment. Early diagnosis and intervention are important!
Signs and Symptoms of chronic graft-versus-host disease
Click on the icons below to learn more about symptom areas.
Skin, Nails, and Hair
Eyes
Mouth and Throat
Digestive System
Lungs
Joints and Muscles
Genitals
Swipe to scroll symptoms
Contact your transplant team right away if you notice any of these signs or symptoms or if new ones develop after you start treatment. Early diagnosis and intervention are important!
Importance of early identification in chronic GVHD
Subtle manifestations of chronic GVHD may go undiagnosed for months, and this delay may worsen prognosis. Timely diagnosis is important to minimize irreversible tissue damage. New signs and symptoms post transplant should be evaluated as potential chronic GVHD.
Chronic GVHD differs from acute GVHD not only in its timing, but also in terms of what’s happening in the body.
While both types of GVHD involve an attack on the host organs and an inflammatory reaction, chronic GVHD is thought to be similar to autoimmune diseases. These include psoriasis, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune diseases also occur when the body’s immune system attacks healthy organs by mistake. And both chronic GVHD and autoimmune disease involve some degree of tissue scarring and thickening (known as fibrosis). Over time, ongoing fibrosis can lead to organ damage.
Did you know?
With chronic GVHD, most people remain on some type of therapy for 2 to 3 years, but this can vary. Some patients’ GVHD must be managed for longer periods.
How common is chronic GVHD?
I had GVHD, a head to toe rash, not long after leaving the hospital. And I still have some skin and mouth GVHD two years later… I try to stay positive, focus on today and tomorrow, bringing joy to people’s lives and finding joy in mine.
Josh O.
2018 transplant recipient
