WHAT IS GRAFT VERSUS HOST DISEASE (GVHD)?
Graft-versus-Host Disease, or GVHD, is a disorder triggered by an immune response of the donor’s stem cells in the recipient’s body. The Graft is the stem cell and the host is the recipient. The donor’s stem cells recognize the recipient’s tissues as a foreign body and begin to attack it. It is essentially a secondary disease as it is a disorder on top of the already present disease, such as leukemia. The incidence is increased when there is a non-perfect match, or a less than 6 out of 6 HLA (human leukocyte antigen) match, although it can happen at any time.
