Acute gut GVHD in children: does skin involvement matter?

Gut GVHD (G-GVHD) is frequently the most severe and difficult to treat compared with skin GVHD. It is unknown if skin involvement with G-GVHD has prognostic significance. To compare the prognosis of acute isolated G-GVHD vs acute gut and skin GVHD (GS-GVHD) in children following allo-SCT. Allo-SCT recipients from Jan 2000-Dec 2009 were included and patients who underwent endoscopy and gut biopsy for G-GVHD were identified. Four hundred and fifty children (0-18 years) underwent allo-SCT during the study period. Seventy-nine (17.5%) patients underwent endoscopy and biopsy. At least stage II was required for skin involvement. Forty nine patients had G-GVHD and 30 had combined, GS-GVHD. The majority of patients received CsA and MTX for GVHD prophylaxis. Sixty-seven percent of patients with GS-GVHD had grade III-IV while only 31% had grade III-IV in the G-GVHD group. Median follow-up was 6.3 years (range 3.6-11.9 years). Relapse rate was similar in both the groups. However, children with G-GVHD had a significantly higher risk of dying from GVHD related complications (37% vs 16%) resulting in superior survival for those with skin involvement (79% vs 49% P=0.02). Extension of G-GVHD to the skin may suggest a better outcome.