Between 30 and 50 percent of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients develop chronic graft-versus-host disease within 1-2 years post-transplantation, yet this substantial disease burden remains preventable through early systematic screening. Recent evidence from Nature Reviews Disease Primers demonstrates that organ-specific manifestations are highly prevalent at diagnosis, with skin involvement occurring in 85 percent of cases, oral involvement in 72 percent, and gastrointestinal involvement in 68 percent. The pathophysiology involves both immune-mediated mechanisms and non-immune fibrotic remodeling, requiring comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. Notably, early intervention through systematic screening protocols can prevent progressive organ damage and preserve patient quality of life. These findings reinforce screening as a cornerstone intervention in transplant follow-up care. Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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