Graft-Versus-Host Disease: Can Biomarkers Assist in Differential Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapeutic Strategy?

A crucial complication after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT), namely, acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), occurs in about 50% of transplant recipients, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Thus far, the diagnosis of GVHD has been mainly established through clinical features and histologic or laboratory evidence of periductal lymphocyte infiltration, fibroplasia, and mixed lymphocytic and plasmocytic inflammation. Intensive research is focused on identifying biomarkers for the early diagnosis, prediction of disease, response to treatment, prognosis, and risk stratification of patients.