All content on this site is intended for healthcare professionals only. By acknowledging this message and accessing the information on this website you are confirming that you are a Healthcare Professional.

The GvHD Hub uses cookies on this website. They help us give you the best online experience. By continuing to use our website without changing your cookie settings, you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our updated Cookie Policy

Introducing

Now you can personalise
your GvHD Hub experience!

Bookmark content to read later

Select your specific areas of interest

View content recommended for you

Find out more
  TRANSLATE

The GvHD Hub website uses a third-party service provided by Google that dynamically translates web content. Translations are machine generated, so may not be an exact or complete translation, and the GvHD Hub cannot guarantee the accuracy of translated content. The GvHD Hub and its employees will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages (even if foreseeable) resulting from use of the Google Translate feature. For further support with Google Translate, visit Google Translate Help.

Steering CommitteeAbout UsNewsletterContact
LOADING
You're logged in! Click here any time to manage your account or log out.
LOADING
You're logged in! Click here any time to manage your account or log out.

The GvHD Hub is an independent medical education platform, sponsored by Medac and supported through grants from Sanofi and Therakos. The funders are allowed no direct influence on our content. The levels of sponsorship listed are reflective of the amount of funding given. View funders.

2019-06-18T14:57:20.000Z

EHA 2019 | Clinical practice in chronic GvHD

Jun 18, 2019
Share:

Bookmark this article

At the 24th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA), Dr Zinaida Peric from the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, HR, outlines the need for a multidisciplinary approach to chronic GvHD (cGVHD) management. This approach is necessary to improve the quality-of-life of patients with GvHD. Dr Peric and colleagues implemented this method of patient care in their center, based on the NIH GvHD Consensus Criteria.

Clinical practice in chronic GvHD

Dr Peric began by stating that currently there is a lack of treatment guidelines, with a wide heterogeneity in the approaches used for cGvHD. The only current clinical standard for GvHD is first-line treatment with systemic steroids. However, if the patient develops progressive onset GvHD, steroid-refractory GvHD or lung GvHD, there are no guidelines.
Some recent changes relate to new drugs such as ibrutinib, and ruxolitinib, though there is no specified treatment plan to accompany these. Dr Peric also highlights that this field needs input from fellow GvHD experts.
Some recommended strategies for cGvHD treatment included developing a supportive care and local therapy plan, and using multidisciplinary approach to treatment, including; collaboration between specialists, education of patients, and input from a GvHD nurse.
Lastly, Dr Peric shared her personal experience of treating patients with refractory cGvHD of the eye. She stated that the use of amniotic membrane transplantation is attractive, since the amniotic membrane has no human leukocyte antigens (HLA) so it can be transplanted without requiring immunosuppression. This also minimizes the risk of rejection. She added this was easily applicable and conferred significant improvement, especially in patients for whom increased immunosuppressive treatment is contraindicated.
 

Newsletter

Subscribe to get the best content related to GvHD delivered to your inbox