Master Graft Versus Host Disease with Picmonic for Medicine

Graft versus host disease occurs due to grafted immunocompetent T cells proliferating in the immunocompromised host. These will cause rejection to the host cells and graft T cell sensitization against host MHC antigens. In the end, it can cause severe organ dysfunction.

Graft recognizes the host as "foreign." HLA mismatches will increase graft versus host disease occurrence. The most common HLA mismatches are HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR antigens.

Graft versus host disease is a type IV hypersensitivity.

The most common skin lesion is a maculopapular rash, which can spread diffusely and confluent. Patients can experience itchiness and pain, and the rash may be seen in the palms, soles, shoulders, and nape of the neck. Bullous lesions with toxic epidermal necrolysis can be seen in severe conditions.

Jaundice can occur as a manifest from graft versus host disease liver injury. It is typically found as cholestatic jaundice, increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and hyperbilirubinemia.

The most common GI manifestation of graft versus host disease is diarrhea and abdominal pain, and it is typically found as diarrhea secretory. It can manifest as watery and may progress to bloody.

Patients with graft versus host disease can be seen with hepatosplenomegaly. Liver involvement is rarely seen. It usually occurs together with GI or cutaneous manifestation.

Severe immunocompromised patients are at risk of having graft versus host disease.

Graft versus host disease usually occurs in bone marrow and liver transplants, organs that are rich in lymphocytes. Bone marrow transplantation is the most common cause of graft versus host disease.

Transfusion of non-irradiated blood can cause a patient to have graft versus host disease. This can be prevented by using blood product irradiation which causes lymphocyte inactivatons.