Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2008; 14(14): 2262-2267
Published online Apr 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2262
Endoscopic diagnosis of gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease
Chun-Fang Xu, Lan-Xiang Zhu, Xiao-Ming Xu, Wei-Chang Chen, De-Pei Wu
Chun-Fang Xu, Lan-Xiang Zhu, Xiao-Ming Xu, Wei-Chang Chen, De-Pei Wu, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of SooChow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China
Correspondence to: Dr. Chun-Fang Xu, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of SooChow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China. xcf601@163.com
Telephone: +86-512-67781318
Fax: +86-512-65228072
Received: November 9, 2007
Revised: February 21, 2008
Published online: April 14, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic value of endoscopy in patients with gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI GVHD).

METHODS: We identified 8 patients with GI GVHD following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell trans-plantation (HSCT). GVHD was defined histologically as the presence of gland apoptosis, not explained by other inflammatory or infectious etiologies.

RESULTS: The symptoms of GI GVHD included anorexia, nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, GI bleeding, etc. Upper endoscopic appearance varied from subtle mucosal edema, hyperemia, erythema to obvious erosion. Colonoscopic examination showed diffuse edema, hyperemia, patchy erosion, scattered ulcer, sloughing and active bleeding. Histological changes in GI GVHD included apoptosis of crypt epithelial cells, dropout of crypts, and lymphocytic infiltration in epithelium and lamina propria. The involvement of stomach and rectocolon varied from diffuse to focal.

CONCLUSION: Endoscopy may play a significant role in early diagnosis of GI GVHD patients following allogeneic HSCT, and histologic examination of gastrointestinal biopsies is needed to confirm the final diagnosis.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease; Endoscopy; Diagnosis; Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation