Minimizing Disability from Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Cancer Rehabilitation (MD Stubblefield, Section Editor)
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  1. Topical Collection on Cancer Rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation which can result in significant disability. Any organ system may be affected, and as a result, a wide variety of functional impairments may occur. Rehabiliation services can improve patient outcomes and quality of life, but an understanding of the underlying disease process is necessary.

Recent Findings

There have been few studies published recently regarding the management of functional impairments in GVHD patients. The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Project on Criteria in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease is an ongoing project begun in 2005 and most recently updated in 2014; however, these data have not yet been used to assess the management of disability in this population.

Summary

The treatment of functional impairments from GVHD remains largely annectdotal and based around experiences from similar diseases; however, rehabilitation interventions should still be considered for patients with significant disease burden.

Keywords

Chronic graft-versus-host disease Steroid myopathy Avascular necrosis Fascial GVHD Cancer rehabilitation 
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Notes

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest

The author declares that he has no competing interests.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of impotance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborUSA

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