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Review
. 2020 Feb;7(2):e157-e167.
doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(19)30256-X.

Prophylaxis and management of graft versus host disease after stem-cell transplantation for haematological malignancies: updated consensus recommendations of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Olaf Penack  1 , Monia Marchetti  2 , Tapani Ruutu  3 , Mahmoud Aljurf  4 , Andrea Bacigalupo  5 , Francesca Bonifazi  6 , Fabio Ciceri  7 , Jan Cornelissen  8 , Ram Malladi  9 , Rafael F Duarte  10 , Sebastian Giebel  11 , Hildegard Greinix  12 , Ernst Holler  13 , Anita Lawitschka  14 , Stephan Mielke  15 , Mohamad Mohty  16 , Mutlu Arat  17 , Arnon Nagler  18 , Jakob Passweg  19 , Hélène Schoemans  20 , Gerard Socié  21 , Carlos Solano  22 , Radovan Vrhovac  23 , Robert Zeiser  24 , Nicolaus Kröger  25 , Grzegorz W Basak  26
Affiliations
Review

Prophylaxis and management of graft versus host disease after stem-cell transplantation for haematological malignancies: updated consensus recommendations of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Olaf Penack et al. Lancet Haematol. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major factor contributing to mortality and morbidity after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. Because of the small number of results from well designed, large-scale, clinical studies there is considerable variability in the prevention and treatment of GVHD worldwide. In 2014, to standardise treatment approaches the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation published recommendations on the management of GVHD in the setting of HLA-identical sibling or unrelated donor transplantation in adult patients with haematological malignancies. Here we update these recommendations including the results of study published after 2014. Evidence was searched in three steps: first, a widespread scan of published trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews; second, expert opinion was added for specific issues following several rounds of debate; and third, a refined search to target debated or rapidly updating issues. On the basis of this evidence and the 2014 recommendations, five members of the EBMT Transplant Complications Working Party created 38 statements on GVHD prophylaxis, drug management, and treatment of acute and chronic GVHD. Subsequently, they created the EBMT GVHD management recommendation expert panel by recruiting 20 experts with expertise in GVHD management. An email-based, two-round Delphi panel approach was used to manage the consensus. Modified National Comprehensive Cancer Network categories for evidence and consensus were applied to the approved statements. We reached 100% consensus for 29 recommendations and 95% consensus for nine recommendations. Key updates to these recommendations include a broader use of rabbit anti-T-cell globulin; lower steroid doses for the management of grade 2 acute GVHD with isolated skin or upper gastrointestinal tract manifestations; fluticasone, azithromycin, and montelukast should be used for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome; and the addition of newer treatment options for resteroid-refractory acute and chronic GVHD. In addition, we discuss specific aspects of GVHD prophylaxis and management in the setting of haploidentical transplantation and in paediatric patients, but no formal recommendations on those procedures have been provided in this Review. The European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation proposes to use these recommendations as a basis for the routine management of GVHD during stem-cell transplantation.

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