Overview
Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a serious medical condition that can happen after a stem cell transplant (also called a bone marrow transplant). In a stem cell transplant, a patient receives blood-forming cells from a donor. Sometimes, the donor's immune cells — called T-cells — see the patient's own body as foreign and attack it. This is what causes GvHD. It is sometimes called 'graft-versus-host reaction' or 'GVHD.' GvHD can affect many parts of the body, including the skin, gut, liver, lungs, eyes, and mouth. There are two main types: acute GvHD, which usually happens within the first few months after transplant, and chronic GvHD, which can develop later and may last for years. Symptoms can range from mild skin rashes to severe problems with the digestive system or lungs. Treatment usually starts with steroids like prednisone to calm the immune system. Several newer medications have been approved by the FDA, including ruxolitinib (Jakafi) for steroid-resistant acute GvHD and ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and belumosudil (Rezurock) for chronic GvHD. Managing GvHD often requires a team of specialists and ongoing monitoring. With the right treatment, many people can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Skin rash, redness, or blisteringYellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)Nausea, vomiting, or stomach crampsDiarrhea, sometimes severe or bloodyDry or irritated eyesDry mouth or mouth soresDifficulty swallowingShortness of breath or dry coughExtreme tiredness and fatigueJoint stiffness or tightening of the skinWeight lossMuscle weaknessFrequent infections due to a weakened immune systemHair loss or nail changes
Clinical phenotype terms (41)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsBaylor College of Medicine — EARLY_PHASE1
Leslie Kean — PHASE1
University of Nebraska — PHASE2
Zhonghui K. Luo, MD, PhD — NA
BioPhoenix Co., Ltd. — PHASE2
Ting YANG
First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University — NA
Lubris Bio Pty Ltd — PHASE2
Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, China — NA
Novartis Pharmaceuticals — PHASE4
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Graft versus host disease.
20 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Rare Disease Specialist
Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
📍 Chicago, Illinois
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
📍 Boston, Massachusetts
👤 Ann (Annie) W Silk
👤 Matthew Frigault, MD
Stanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
Financial Resources
1 resourcesRezurock
Sanofi
Graft-versus-host disease
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Graft versus host disease.
Community
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Start the conversation →Latest news about Graft versus host disease
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Electrostimulation Study for Ocular Graft vs. Host Disease
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
New recruiting trial: Leflunomide in Combination With Steroids for the Treatment of Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease After Donor Stem Cell Transplant for Hematologic Malignancies
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
New recruiting trial: Addition of Cord Blood Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to Ruxolitinib for the Treatment of Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft Versus Host Disease
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
New recruiting trial: Comparing the Therapeutic Effects of Using Ruxolitinib and Steroids Concurrently to Steroids Alone as Initial Treatment In Patients Diagnosed With Chronic Graft-versus-host Disease at a Grade of Moderate or Higher Severity
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
New recruiting trial: Effect of Stem Cell Infusion Time on aGVHD in Patients With Hematological Malignancies Post UCBT
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
New recruiting trial: Analysis of the Immunobiology of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Relapses After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) for the Generation of Guidelines and Personalized Therapeutic Pathways
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
New recruiting trial: The Prevalence of Hypoesthesia Related Keratitis in Ocular Graft Vs. Host Disease (GVHD) Patients
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
New recruiting trial: Dose-Escalation Trial of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Patients With Medical Xerostomia
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
New recruiting trial: Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease in the Oral Cavity of Patients Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Including Healthy Controls
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
New recruiting trial: Study of Efficacy and Safety of Ruxolitinib in Chinese Participants With Corticosteroid-refractory Chronic Graft vs. Host Disease
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Graft versus host disease
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What type and stage of GvHD do I have, and which organs are affected?,What treatment do you recommend, and what are the main side effects I should watch for?,What signs should prompt me to call you or go to the emergency room right away?,How long will I need to take immune-suppressing medications, and how will we know if they are working?,Are there clinical trials I might be eligible for if my GvHD does not respond to standard treatment?,What can I do to reduce my risk of serious infections while my immune system is suppressed?,How will GvHD affect my ability to return to work, school, or normal activities?
Common questions about Graft versus host disease
What is Graft versus host disease?
Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a serious medical condition that can happen after a stem cell transplant (also called a bone marrow transplant). In a stem cell transplant, a patient receives blood-forming cells from a donor. Sometimes, the donor's immune cells — called T-cells — see the patient's own body as foreign and attack it. This is what causes GvHD. It is sometimes called 'graft-versus-host reaction' or 'GVHD.' GvHD can affect many parts of the body, including the skin, gut, liver, lungs, eyes, and mouth. There are two main types: acute GvHD, which usually happens within the first
How is Graft versus host disease inherited?
Graft versus host disease follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Are there clinical trials for Graft versus host disease?
Yes — 20 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Graft versus host disease on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Graft versus host disease?
25 specialists and care centers treating Graft versus host disease are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.
What treatment and support options exist for Graft versus host disease?
1 patient support program are currently tracked on UniteRare for Graft versus host disease. See the treatments and support programs sections for copay assistance, eligibility, and contact details.