Graft-versus-host disease: its oral manifestations

Abstract

Graft-versus-host disease is the main complication following an allogeneic tissue transplant. It is caused by an exaggerated inflammatory reaction mediated by donor lymphocytes and stimulated by tissues lesioned by the underlying disease, by previous infection or by the conditioning treatment. The diagnosis is clinical and histopathological. Patients have itchy and painful maculopapular rash that can spread throughout the entire body surface, fever, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and anorexia. Extremely painful ulcerated erosions occur in the oral mucosa, which may be the first or the only clinically detectable manifestation of the disease. The objective is to report a case of graft-versus-host disease. A 54 year-old woman with non-Hodgkin lymphoma was treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hematopoietic cell transplantation in 2009. After three months, she presented skin lesions diagnosed as graft-versus-host disease and received corticosteroids. Six months later, she was referred to the dentist because of complaints of xerostomia, a burning sensation in her mouth and difficulty chewing. She also had ulcers in the oral mucosa and tongue. This time she received topical corticosteroid therapy, chlorhexidine, oral hygiene instructions and permanent clinical control. Despite some protocols for the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease, its frequency has recently risen due to the increasing number of transplants. For this reason, it is essential for the dentist to be part of the multidisciplinary team treating the patient, and familiar with the signs and symptoms of the disease, since clinical manifestations may be the only ones at hand to make the diagnosis.