myGVHDteam

What are the skin symptoms of acute GVHD?

Acute GVHD commonly causes skin symptoms that can range from mild to severe. Here's what you might notice:

Common skin changes include
* Rashes that look… read more

What are the skin symptoms of acute GVHD?

Acute GVHD commonly causes skin symptoms that can range from mild to severe. Here's what you might notice:

Common skin changes include:
* Rashes that look similar to a sunburn
* Flat or slightly raised rashes (called maculopapular rashes)
* Itchy, dry, and sensitive skin
* Red patches or discoloration
* Dark patches, especially on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet

Where symptoms typically start:

The rash usually begins on the neck, upper chest, shoulders, palms, or soles of the feet. Sometimes it appears on distant parts of the body first, then spreads and runs together.

Staging based on severity:

Skin involvement is staged from 1 to 4 based on how much of your body is affected:
* Stage 1: Rash covers less than 25% of your skin
* Stage 2: Rash covers 25% to 50% of your body
* Stage 3: Widespread redness, peeling, and scaling covering more than half your body
* Stage 4: Large blisters on the skin

If you notice any new or worsening skin symptoms, contact your transplant team right away. They can evaluate your symptoms and adjust your treatment plan if needed.

myGVHDteam

What could cause an itchy, bumpy rash that moves around the body along with tongue ulcers and swelling after a stem cell transplant?

The symptoms you're describing sound consistent with GVHD… read more

What could cause an itchy, bumpy rash that moves around the body along with tongue ulcers and swelling after a stem cell transplant?

The symptoms you're describing sound consistent with GVHD affecting both your skin and mouth. The itchy, moving rash that gets red and hot is a common feature of GVHD skin involvement. The fact that it's been persistent for 6 months and causes bleeding from scratching suggests this needs medical attention.

Your tongue symptoms are particularly concerning. GVHD can cause:
- Painful ulcers on the tongue
- Swelling that makes talking difficult
- Increased sensitivity

These oral symptoms appear in 45-83% of people with chronic GVHD and are often among the first signs. It's really important to contact your transplant team or doctor right away about these symptoms, especially since:
- The rash is severe enough to bleed
- Your tongue swelling is affecting your ability to speak
- Symptoms have persisted for 6 months

Treatment typically starts with topical steroids for skin GVHD. For mouth symptoms, doctors may prescribe special mouth rinses, medications, or saliva substitutes to help with healing and pain relief.

Don't try to manage this alone - your medical team needs to evaluate whether this is GVHD flaring or something else requiring immediate treatment.

myGVHDteam

No, GVHD only occurs with allogeneic stem cell transplants (transplants using donor cells from another person). GVHD develops when the donated immune cells (the graft) identify the recipient's healthy… read more

No, GVHD only occurs with allogeneic stem cell transplants (transplants using donor cells from another person). GVHD develops when the donated immune cells (the graft) identify the recipient's healthy cells (the host) as foreign invaders and attack them.

Since autologous transplants use your own stem cells, there is no risk of GVHD because your immune cells recognize your own tissues as "self" rather than foreign.

myGVHDteam

Based on the provided search results and instructions, I cannot provide specific guidance about celiac disease or multiple myeloma. Since you have GVHD, it would be best to focus your questions on… read more

Based on the provided search results and instructions, I cannot provide specific guidance about celiac disease or multiple myeloma. Since you have GVHD, it would be best to focus your questions on managing GVHD symptoms and treatment. Please consult with your healthcare team about managing any additional health conditions alongside your GVHD.

The most important thing is to keep your healthcare team informed about all of your medical conditions so they can develop an appropriate treatment plan that takes everything into account.

myGVHDteam

GVHD (Graft-Versus-Host Disease) is a condition that can affect multiple organs in the body following a transplant. It can be acute or chronic, and in some cases may become life-threatening. While… read more

GVHD (Graft-Versus-Host Disease) is a condition that can affect multiple organs in the body following a transplant. It can be acute or chronic, and in some cases may become life-threatening. While doctors previously classified GVHD based on timing after transplant, current guidelines focus more on the type and severity of symptoms. Common symptoms of GVHD include:

• Skin issues - rashes, color changes, blistering
• Eye problems - dryness, irritation
• Mouth symptoms - sores, ulcers
• Liver problems - jaundice
• Gastrointestinal issues - diarrhea, abdominal pain
• Lung problems - shortness of breath, dry cough
• Joint/muscle symptoms - pain, swelling, stiffness
• Genital area changes - discomfort, changes in function

The severity can range from mild to severe depending on how many organs are affected and the intensity of symptoms.