Iatrogenic cutaneous graft versus host disease

Dermatol Online J. 2020 Nov 15;26(11):13030/qt16z1159r.

Abstract

A 65-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia 6 was treated by bone marrow allograft, developed a systemic classic chronic graft versus host disease with hepatic, rheumatologic, ophthalmic, and muco-cutaneous involvement. He received systemic corticosteroid, ruxolitinib and extracorporeal photopheresis which resulted in complete remission. During follow-up the patient presented with viral cutaneous warts on his neck and submandibular area. After various subsequent topical treatments, he developed localized cutaneous GVHD without any general GVHD reactivation symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no description in the literature of a graft versus host disease developing after local immunomodulatory or cytotoxic treatments. Topical therapies are commonly used by dermatologists for superficial skin cancers and some viral skin lesions, in high risk populations such as organ transplant patients with regular follow-up.Practitioners should be made aware of a possible localized cutaneous GVHD reactivation induced by Koebner phenomenon after local therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / adverse effects
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Aged
  • Allografts
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Chronic Disease
  • Dermatitis / etiology
  • Dermatitis / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / drug therapy
  • Graft vs Host Disease / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Iatrogenic Disease
  • Immunomodulation*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy
  • Male
  • Nitriles
  • Psoriasis / etiology
  • Pyrazoles / adverse effects
  • Pyrimidines
  • Skin Diseases / etiology*
  • Skin Diseases / pathology
  • Warts / etiology*

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Nitriles
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • ruxolitinib