[en] Introduction
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) offers potential curative treatment for a wide range of malignant and nonmalignant hematological disorders. However, its success may be limited by post-transplant acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), a systemic syndrome in which donor’s immune cells attack healthy tissues in the immunocompromised host. aGVHD is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality after alloHSCT. Despite standard GVHD prophylaxis regimens, aGVHD still develops in approximately 40–60% of alloHSCT recipients.
Areas covered
In this review, after a brief summary of current knowledge on the pathogenesis of aGVHD, the authors review the current combination of a calcineurin inhibitor with an antimetabolite with or without added anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and emerging strategies for GVHD prevention.
Expert opinion
A new understanding of the involvement of cytokines, intracellular signaling pathways, epigenetics and immunoregulatory cells in GVHD pathogenesis will lead to new standards for aGVHD prophylaxis allowing better prevention of severe aGVHD without affecting graft-versus-tumor effects.
Disciplines :
Immunology & infectious disease
Author, co-author :
SERVAIS, Sophie ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Service d'hématologie clinique
BEGUIN, Yves ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Service d'hématologie clinique
Delens, Loïc ; Université de Liège > GIGA-R : Hématologie
Ehx, Grégory ; Université de Liège > GIGA-R : Hématologie
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