High Amphiregulin Expression Is a High-Risk Feature of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease of the Skin

The study analyzed skin tissues from 67 patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and 25 controls, finding that high amphiregulin (AREG) expression was present in 23.9% of aGVHD cases. This high expression was linked to a more severe overall grade of GVHD, a lower 3-year overall survival rate (13% compared to 61% in those with lower AREG expression), and a higher 3-year non-relapse mortality rate (56% compared to 20%). The conclusion was that high AREG expression in the skin is a high-risk indicator for aGVHD, indicating the need for further research into the relationship between elevated AREG and poor outcomes post-aGVHD.