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Graft-versus-Host Disease

Central nervous system graft-versus-host disease: report of two cases and literature review

Abstract

Two patients with a plausible diagnosis of central nervous system graft-versus-host disease (CNS-GVHD) are described. Both presented with neurological manifestations 6 and 18 months following allogeneic transplant with hemiparesis, seizure, encephalopathy and magnetic resonance findings of hyperintense white matter lesions on T-2 weighed images. Brain biopsy in one and autopsy in the other revealed profound perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates composed predominantly of T-lymphocytes that were of donor origin. Although an unequivocal diagnosis of CNS-GVHD is difficult to establish, the transplantation community should be aware of this controversial entity.

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Correspondence to R T Kamble.

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Kamble, R., Chang, CC., Sanchez, S. et al. Central nervous system graft-versus-host disease: report of two cases and literature review. Bone Marrow Transplant 39, 49–52 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1705540

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