Graft Versus Host Disease; (Skin, Liver & Lungs) Manifestations & GVHD Treatment

4) Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is given after the transplantation for many reasons including ablating all malignant cells in blood cancers and -ironically- avoiding GVHD, however, their effect can be a double-edged weapon and a large amount of cytokines may be released into the circulation, triggering what is known as a cytokine storm, which greatly increases the risk of GVHD.