Skip to main content
Log in

Graft-versus-Host-Erkrankung

Graft-versus-host disease

  • Leitthema
  • Published:
Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Zusammenfassung

Die Graft-versus-Host-Erkrankung („graft-versus-host disease“, GvHD) – der dem Englischen entsprechende deutsche Begriff „Spender-gegen-Wirt-Erkrankung“ wird im deutschen Sprachraum eigentlich nicht mehr verwendet – ist eine häufige immunologische Unverträglichkeitsreaktion im Rahmen der allogenen hämatopoetischen Stammzelltransplantation und die wichtigste Ursache der transplantatassoziierten Morbidität und Mortalität. Ihre Inzidenz und Schwere sind von verschiedenen Faktoren abhängig, wie HLA-Übereinstimmung, Alter des Spenders, Behandlung des Transplantats u.v.m. Das zunehmende Verständnis der Pathophysiologie der GvHD wurde teilweise in prophylaktische und therapeutische Maßnahmen umgesetzt, die z. T. klinisch evaluiert werden. Der vorliegende Übersichtsartikel fasst Klassifikation, Diagnostik und therapeutische Konzepte zusammen. Pathophysiologische Mechanismen der GvHD-Entstehung werden nur insofern aufgeführt, wie sie zum Verständnis von in der klinischen Praxis verwendeten Therapieansätzen notwendig erscheinen.

Abstract

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is the most important cause for transplant-related morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Its incidence and severity depend on several factors, such as HLA matching, donor age, source of the graft, and graft manipulation. Significant progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of this complication and some of these findings have been implemented in prophylactic or therapeutic approaches that are currently under clinical evaluation. This review summarizes important diagnostic features of GvHD, gives and overview of prophylactic concepts, outlines effective treatment concepts and comments briefly on some innovative therapeutic approaches for patients who fail first line therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Abb. 1
Abb. 2

Literatur

  1. Antin JH, Chen AR, Couriel DR et al. (2004) Novel approaches to the therapy of steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 10: 655–668

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Aoudjhane M, Labopin M, Gorin NC et al. (2005) Comparative outcome of reduced intensity and myeloablative conditioning regimen in HLA identical sibling allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients older than 50 years of age with acute myeloblastic leukaemia: a retrospective survey from the Acute Leukemia Working Party (ALWP) of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). Leukemia 19: 2304–2312

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Atkinson K, Horowitz MM, Gale RP et al. (1990) Risk factors for chronic graft-versus-host disease after HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplantation. Blood 75: 2459–2464

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bacigalupo A (2002) Second EBMT Workshop on reduced intensity allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplants (RI-HSCT). Bone Marrow Transplant 29: 191–195

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bacigalupo A, Lamparelli T, Bruzzi P et al. (2001) Antithymocyte globulin for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis in transplants from unrelated donors: 2 randomized studies from Gruppo Italiano Trapianti Midollo Osseo (GITMO). Blood 98: 2942–2947

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bacigalupo A, Lamparelli T, Barisione G et al. (2006) Thymoglobulin prevents chronic graft-versus-host disease, chronic lung dysfunction, and late transplant-related mortality: long-term follow-up of a randomized trial in patients undergoing unrelated donor transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 12: 560–565

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Baudard M, Vincent A, Moreau P et al. (2002) Mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of acute and chronic GVHD is effective and well tolerated but induces a high risk of infectious complications: a series of 21 BM or PBSC transplant patients. Bone Marrow Transplant 30: 287–295

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Browne PV, Weisdorf DJ, DeFor T et al. (2000) Response to thalidomide therapy in refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease. Bone Marrow Transplant 26: 865–869

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Busca A, Saroglia EM, Lanino E et al. (2000) Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as therapy for refractory chronic GVHD (cGVHD) in children receiving bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 25: 1067–1071

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Carnevale-Schianca F, Martin P, Sullivan K et al. (2000) Changing from cyclosporine to tacrolimus as salvage therapy for chronic graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 6: 613–620

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Carpenter PA, Pavlovic S, Tso JY et al. (2000) Non-Fc receptor-binding humanized anti-CD3 antibodies induce apoptosis of activated human T cells. J Immunol 165: 6205–6213

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Couriel D, Carpenter PA, Cutler C et al. (2006) Ancillary therapy and supportive care of chronic graft-versus-host disease: National Institutes of Health consensus development project on criteria for clinical trials in chronic Graft-versus-host disease: V. Ancillary Therapy and Supportive Care Working Group Report. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 12: 375–396

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cragg L, Blazar BR, Defor T et al. (2000) A randomized trial comparing prednisone with antithymocyte globulin/prednisone as an initial systemic therapy for moderately severe acute graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 6: 441–447

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Dahlke J, Kroger N, Zabelina T et al. (2006) Comparable results in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after related and unrelated stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 37: 155–163

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Eapen M, Horowitz MM, Klein JP et al. (2004) Higher mortality after allogeneic peripheral-blood transplantation compared with bone marrow in children and adolescents: the Histocompatibility and Alternate Stem Cell Source Working Committee of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry. J Clin Oncol 22: 4872–4880

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Eapen M, Rubinstein P, Zhang MJ et al. (2006) Comparable long-term survival after unrelated and HLA-matched sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantations for acute leukemia in children younger than 18 months. J Clin Oncol 24: 145–151

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Eapen M, Rubinstein P, Zhang MJ et al. (2007) Outcomes of transplantation of unrelated donor umbilical cord blood and bone marrow in children with acute leukaemia: a comparison study. Lancet 369: 1947–1954

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Eppinger T, Ehninger G, Steinert M et al. (1990) 8-Methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet A therapy for cutaneous manifestations of graft-versus-host disease. Transplantation 50: 807–811

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Filipovich AH, Weisdorf D, Pavletic S et al. (2005) National Institutes of Health consensus development project on criteria for clinical trials in chronic graft-versus-host disease: I. Diagnosis and staging working group report. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 11: 945–956

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gilman AL, Chan KW, Mogul A et al. (2000) Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 6: 327–334

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Gluckman E, Rocha V, Arcese W et al. (2004) Factors associated with outcomes of unrelated cord blood transplant: guidelines for donor choice. Exp Hematol 32: 397–407

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Glucksberg H, Storb R, Fefer A et al. (1974) Clinical manifestations of graft-versus-host disease in human recipients of marrow from HL-A-matched sibling donors. Transplantation 18: 295–304

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Gorin NC, Labopin M, Boiron JM et al. (2006) Results of genoidentical hemopoietic stem cell transplantation with reduced intensity conditioning for acute myelocytic leukemia: higher doses of stem cells infused benefit patients receiving transplants in second remission or beyond – the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Cooperative Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. J Clin Oncol 24: 3959–3966

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Greinix HT, Volc-Platzer B, Rabitsch W et al. (1998) Successful use of extracorporeal photochemotherapy in the treatment of severe acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease. Blood 92: 3098–3104

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Handgretinger R, Schumm M, Lang P et al. (1999) Transplantation of megadoses of purified haploidentical stem cells. Ann N Y Acad Sci 872: 351–361

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ho VT, Soiffer RJ (2001) The history and future of T-cell depletion as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Blood 98: 3192–3204

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hsu B, May R, Carrum G et al. (2001) Use of antithymocyte globulin for treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease: an international practice survey. Bone Marrow Transplant 28: 945–950

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Koc S, Leisenring W, Flowers ME et al. (2000) Thalidomide for treatment of patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease. Blood 96: 3995–3996

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Koc S, Leisenring W, Flowers ME et al. (2002) Therapy for chronic graft-versus-host disease: a randomized trial comparing cyclosporine plus prednisone versus prednisone alone. Blood 100: 48–51

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Krejci M, Doubek M, Buchler T et al. (2005) Mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of acute and chronic steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease. Ann Hematol 84: 681–685

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Lang P, Schumm M, Greil J et al. (2005) A comparison between three graft manipulation methods for haploidentical stem cell transplantation in pediatric patients: preliminary results of a pilot study. Klin Padiatr 217: 334–338

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Le Blanc K, Rasmusson I, Sundberg B et al. (2004) Treatment of severe acute graft-versus-host disease with third party haploidentical mesenchymal stem cells. Lancet 363: 1439–1441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Le Blanc K, Ringden O (2006) Mesenchymal stem cells: properties and role in clinical bone marrow transplantation. Curr Opin Immunol. 18: 586–591

    Google Scholar 

  34. Lim ZY, Ho AY, Ingram W et al. (2006) Outcomes of alemtuzumab-based reduced intensity conditioning stem cell transplantation using unrelated donors for myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol 135: 201–209

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Lopez F, Parker P, Nademanee A et al. (2005) Efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 11: 307–313

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. MacMillan ML, Weisdorf DJ, Wagner JE et al. (2002) Response of 443 patients to steroids as primary therapy for acute graft-versus-host disease: comparison of grading systems. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 8: 387–394

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Mapara MY, Kim YM, Wang S et al. (2002) Donor lymphocyte infusions mediate superior graft-versus-leukemia effects in mixed compared to fully allogeneic chimeras: a critical role for host antigen-presenting cells. Blood 100: 1903–1909

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Martin PJ, Schoch G, Fisher L et al. (1990) A retrospective analysis of therapy for acute graft-versus-host disease: initial treatment. Blood 76: 1464–1472

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Marty FM, Lee SJ, Fahey MM et al. (2003) Infliximab use in patients with severe graft-versus-host disease and other emerging risk factors of non-Candida invasive fungal infections in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: a cohort study. Blood 102: 2768–2776

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Nagler A, Menachem Y, Ilan Y. (2001) Amelioration of steroid-resistant chronic graft-versus-host-mediated liver disease via tacrolimus treatment. J Hematother Stem Cell Res 10: 411–417

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Nash RA, Etzioni R, Storb R et al. (1995) Tacrolimus (FK506) alone or in combination with methotrexate or methylprednisolone for the prevention of acute graft-versus-host disease after marrow transplantation from HLA-matched siblings: a single-center study. Blood 85: 3746–3753

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Nash RA, Antin JH, Karanes C et al. (2000) Phase 3 study comparing methotrexate and tacrolimus with methotrexate and cyclosporine for prophylaxis of acute graft-versus-host disease after marrow transplantation from unrelated donors. Blood 96: 2062–2068

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Nash RA, Johnston L, Parker P et al. (2005) A phase I/II study of mycophenolate mofetil in combination with cyclosporine for prophylaxis of acute graft-versus-host disease after myeloablative conditioning and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 11: 495–505

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Nieto Y, Patton N, Hawkins T et al. (2006) Tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil after nonmyeloablative matched-sibling donor allogeneic stem-cell transplantations conditioned with fludarabine and low-dose total body irradiation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 12: 217–225

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Pavletic SZ, Martin P, Lee SJ et al. (2006) Measuring therapeutic response in chronic graft-versus-host disease: National Institutes of Health consensus development project on criteria for clinical trials in chronic graft-versus-host disease: IV. Response Criteria Working Group report. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 12: 252–266

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Petersdorf EW, Anasetti C, Martin PJ et al. (2004) Limits of HLA mismatching in unrelated hematopoietic cell transplantation. Blood 104: 2976–2980

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Petersdorf EW, Gooley T, Malkki M et al. (2007) Clinical significance of donor-recipient HLA matching on survival after myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation from unrelated donors. Tissue Antigens [Suppl 1] 69: 25–30

  48. Ratanatharathorn V, Nash RA, Przepiorka D et al. (1998) Phase III study comparing methotrexate and tacrolimus (prograf, FK506) with methotrexate and cyclosporine for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis after HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplantation. Blood 92: 2303–2314

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Reddy P, Maeda Y, Liu C et al. (2005) A crucial role for antigen-presenting cells and alloantigen expression in graft-versus-leukemia responses. Nat Med 11: 1244–1249

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Rocha V, Labopin M, Sanz G et al. (2004) Transplants of umbilical-cord blood or bone marrow from unrelated donors in adults with acute leukemia. N Engl J Med 351: 2276–2285

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Rovelli A, Arrigo C, Nesi F et al. (1998) The role of thalidomide in the treatment of refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease following bone marrow transplantation in children. Bone Marrow Transplant 21: 577–581

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Ruggeri L, Capanni M, Urbani E et al. (2002) Effectiveness of donor natural killer cell alloreactivity in mismatched hematopoietic transplants. Science 295: 2097–2100

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Sauer M, Bettoni C, Lauten M et al. (2005) Complete substitution of cyclophosphamide by fludarabine and ATG in a busulfan-based preparative regimen for children and adolescents with beta-thalassemia. Bone Marrow Transplant 36: 383–387

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Sauer M, Zeidler C, Meissner B et al. (2007) Substitution of cyclophosphamide and busulfan by fludarabine, treosulfan and melphalan in a preparative regimen for children and adolescents with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. Bone Marrow Transplant 39: 143–147

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Schlegel PG, Eyrich M, Bader P et al. (2000) OKT-3-based reconditioning regimen for early graft failure in HLA-non-identical stem cell transplants. Br J Haematol 111: 668–673

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Schultz KR, Miklos DB, Fowler D et al. (2006) Toward biomarkers for chronic graft-versus-host disease: National Institutes of Health consensus development project on criteria for clinical trials in chronic graft-versus-host disease: III. Biomarker Working Group Report. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 12: 126–137

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Scott BL, Sandmaier BM, Storer B et al. (2006) Myeloablative vs nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplantation for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myelogenous leukemia with multilineage dysplasia: a retrospective analysis. Leukemia 20: 128–135

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Shah AJ, Kapoor N, Crooks GM et al. (2007) The effects of Campath 1H upon graft-versus-host disease, infection, relapse, and immune reconstitution in recipients of pediatric unrelated transplants. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 13: 584–593

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Shlomchik WD, Couzens MS, Tang CB et al. (1999) Prevention of graft versus host disease by inactivation of host antigen-presenting cells. Science 285: 412–415

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Shulman HM, Kleiner D, Lee SJ et al. (2006) Histopathologic diagnosis of chronic graft-versus-host disease: National Institutes of Health consensus development project on criteria for clinical trials in chronic graft-versus-host disease: II. Pathology Working Group Report. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 12: 31–47

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Storb R, Deeg HJ, Whitehead J et al. (1986) Methotrexate and cyclosporine compared with cyclosporine alone for prophylaxis of acute graft versus host disease after marrow transplantation for leukemia. N Engl J Med 314: 729–735

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Storb R, Deeg HJ, Pepe M et al. (1989) Graft-versus-host disease prevention by methotrexate combined with cyclosporin compared to methotrexate alone in patients given marrow grafts for severe aplastic anaemia: long-term follow-up of a controlled trial. Br J Haematol 72: 567–572

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Storb R, Sanders JE, Pepe M et al. (1991) Graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis with methotrexate/cyclosporine in children with severe aplastic anemia treated with cyclophosphamide and HLA-identical marrow grafts. Blood 78: 1144–1145

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Strahm B, Locatelli F, Bader P et al. (2007) Reduced intensity conditioning in unrelated donor transplantation for refractory cytopenia in childhood. Bone Marrow Transplant 40: 329–333

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Sullivan KM, Shulman HM, Storb R et al. (1981) Chronic graft-versus-host disease in 52 patients: adverse natural course and successful treatment with combination immunosuppression. Blood 57: 267–276

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Sullivan KM, Witherspoon RP, Storb R et al. (1988) Alternating-day cyclosporine and prednisone for treatment of high-risk chronic graft-v-host disease. Blood 72: 555–561

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Takami A, Mochizuki K, Okumura H et al. (2006) Mycophenolate mofetil is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of refractory acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease. Int J Hematol 83: 80–85

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Uberti JP, Ayash L, Ratanatharathorn V et al. (2005) Pilot trial on the use of etanercept and methylprednisolone as primary treatment for acute graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 11: 680–687

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Van Lint MT, Milone G, Leotta S et al. (2006) Treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease with prednisolone: significant survival advantage for day +5 responders and no advantage for nonresponders receiving anti-thymocyte globulin. Blood 107: 4177–4181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Vogelsang GB, Wolff D, Altomonte V et al. (1996) Treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease with ultraviolet irradiation and psoralen (PUVA). Bone Marrow Transplant 17: 1061–1067

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Weiden PL, Flournoy N, Thomas ED et al. (1979) Antileukemic effect of graft-versus-host disease in human recipients of allogeneic-marrow grafts. N Engl J Med 300: 1068–1073

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Weisdorf D, Haake R, Blazar B et al. (1990) Treatment of moderate/severe acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: an analysis of clinical risk features and outcome. Blood 75: 1024–1030

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Danksagung

Die histologischen Bilder von GvHD-Präparaten wurden freundlicherweise von Dr. F. Länger, Institut für Pathologie der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover, zur Verfügung gestellt.

Interessenkonflikt

Der korrespondierende Autor gibt an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Sauer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sauer, M. Graft-versus-Host-Erkrankung. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 155, 1021–1030 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00112-007-1612-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00112-007-1612-8

Schlüsselwörter

Keywords

Navigation