Graft-versus-host disease in a child with neuroblastoma after autologous stem cell transplantation

• Published in: Contemporary Oncology
• Main Authors: Yöntem Yaman, Gökhan Baysoy, Emre Keleşoğlu, Kürşat Özdilli, Aslı Çakır, Dildar Bahar Genç, Murat Elli, Sema Anak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2019-03-01
• Subjects: graft-versus-host disease; child; neuroblastoma; autologous stem cell transplantation
• Online Access: https://www.termedia.pl/Graft-versus-host-disease-in-a-child-with-neuroblastoma-after-autologous-stem-cell-transplantation,3,36132,1,1.html
• ISSN: 1428-2526; 1897-4309

In the pediatric population, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is used to treat a wide variety of diseases, both malignant and nonmalignant. For many of these diseases, HSCT is a well-established treatment. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Graft versus host disease is a common complication of allo-SCT which is induced by donor T cell recognition of recipient alloantigens. The occurrence of autologous GVHD suggests that inappropriate recognition of host self-antigens may occur. GVHD in patients who received autologous HSCT is extremely rare compared to patients who received allogeneic HSCT. We present the case of a 4-year-old girl with metastatic neuroblastoma who spontaneously developed autologous GVHD after autologous HSCT.