What is graft-versus-host disease?

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common, and sometimes serious side effect of an allogeneic blood stem cell transplant.

GVHD happens when the healthy, blood-forming cells from your donor (the graft) see your body's cells (the host) as different and attack them. There are medicines to help lower your risk of getting GVHD, but even with medicine some patients may still develop GVHD.

The different types of graft-versus-host disease

Graft-versus-host disease can range from mild to severe; temporary to long-term. Many patients will have some symptoms of GVHD after transplant.

Acute GVHD

Acute GVHD typically develops in the early weeks and months after a transplant. It’s referred to as late acute GVHD when it develops 3 or more months after transplant.

Chronic GVHD

Chronic GVHD typically develops within 1 year of a transplant, but can also occur years later. It’s called overlap chronic GVHD when signs and symptoms of chronic and acute GVHD appear together.

Areas affected by GVHD

There are several areas of the body where GVHD can develop. We’ve worked hand in hand with the experts at the Chronic GVHD Consortium to provide a comprehensive list of facts and information about GVHD of the:

It’s important to note that having some GVHD is not always bad. If your transplant was treating a blood cancer, your doctor may see mild GVHD as a good thing. It's a sign that the new cells are working to destroy any cancer cells that are still in your body. Patients who have some GVHD may have a lower risk of the cancer returning after transplant.

Learn more about GVHD prevention

GVHD treatment options

GVHD treatment works well for many patients. Depending on the method of treatment and its effectiveness on your body specifically, your treatment for acute GVHD may last for weeks to months. Your treatment for chronic GVHD may last 2–3 years or longer.

Steroids

Steroids are the primary treatment for graft-versus-host disease. Steroids are immunosuppressants, which means they work by weakening your immune system so the newly donated cells won’t attack your body.

Because your immune system won’t be as effective when undergoing this treatment option, you may need to stay away from large crowds or even stop participating in certain activities.

It’s important to talk to your doctor about any treatment related concerns and to consider what activities you may be unable to perform when assessing your GVHD treatment options.

Extracorporeal photopheresis

If steroids don’t help your GVHD, you may be asked to try extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). In ECP, small amounts of blood are slowly taken from your body and circulated through a machine. The machine separates the white blood cells and treats them with a medication/drug that makes them more sensitive to light. After the treated cells have been exposed to light, they are recirculated back into your bloodstream.

Living with graft-versus-host disease

Living with chronic GVHD can be challenging, but focusing on positive coping strategies can help you navigate treatment and recovery with support from family, friends and NMDP.

Healthy tips for living with GVHD

You may need additional medication to help prevent side effects from your treatment.
Be prepared to talk to your doctor about your symptoms. If your doctor lowers the treatment dosage, it’s common for GVHD symptoms to worsen.
Talk to your doctor about dietary recommendations to mitigate treatment side effects.
Even simple stretches and exercises can improve the way you feel.
Visit an eye doctor, dentist, and dermatologist regularly to monitor for early signs of mouth or skin cancer.

Visit our GVHD treatment page for more healthy tips on managing GVHD and improving your quality of life.

Discover GVHD support services

NMDP partnerships

NMDP partners with the GVHD Alliance to raise awareness and help support more than 15,000 people whose daily life and happiness is currently affected by GVHD. Access a variety of research, educational resources and support tools to learn how to best prevent and treat this disease by visiting the GVHD Alliance.

Access the patient support center

Explore the full range of services we provide to help people with graft versus host disease, including group support, emotional and spiritual support, tips for healthy living after treatment, and more.

Visit the patient support center