¹Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

Correspondence: Dr MED Flowers, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N, D5-290, PO Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA. E-mail: mflowers@fhcrc.org

Received 14 May 2004; Accepted 13 September 2004; Published online 22 November 2004.

Abstract

The efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) after nonmyeloablative conditioning depends on the balance between the desirable antineoplastic effects of donor cells weighed against the undesirable morbidity of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Development of serious acute or chronic GVHD was analyzed retrospectively in 171 consecutive patients, who had related or unrelated nonmyeloablative HCT for hematologic malignancies. GVHD was defined as serious when it resulted in (1) death, (2) disability, (3) three or more major infections in 1 year, (4) prolonged hospitalization or (5) suicide or hospitalization for suicidal ideation. According to this definition, 43 of 171 (25%) patients developed serious GVHD with a median follow-up of 30 (range, 12–65) months. The incidence of serious GVHD was similar after related and unrelated HCT. Among the 43 patients with serious GVHD, 20 had grade III–IV acute GVHD, and 30 had extensive chronic GVHD. Among the 171 patients, seven had grade III acute GVHD and 84 had extensive chronic GVHD that did not meet criteria for serious GVHD. Assessment of serious GVHD provides additional useful information to acute GVHD grades and classification of limited and extensive chronic GVHD in describing the overall risk and impact complications caused by donor cells.