Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease and Skin

The 2003 study by Selvaag et al. reported on two young patients with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) who experienced rapid facial skin aging, possibly due to autoantibodies against collagen. cGVHD, a complication affecting 30-50% of allogeneic transplant patients, often involved the skin and oral mucosa, with symptoms resembling autoimmune diseases. The study noted that over 80% of transplant patients exhibited dermatological manifestations, including sclerodermoid lesions, pigmentation disorders, and mucosal issues, which could lead to severe complications like joint contractures and skin ulcerations. Hair and nail changes, such as alopecia and nail dystrophy, were also observed. The study underscored the importance of understanding the clinical spectrum of cGVHD, as the skin was a major target organ, with increased risks of skin malignancies and infections.