Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: Report From the German–Austrian–Swiss Consensus Conference on Clinical Practice in Chronic GVHD

• DOI: 10.1097/ico.0b013e318226bf97
• Publication Date: 2011-12-07T09:58:10Z
• Authors: Tina Dietrich-Nto...; Claus Cursiefen; Henrike Westekemper; Philipp Eberwein; Thomas Reinhard; Hartmut Bertz; Johannes Nepp; Anita Lawitschka; Arnd Heiligenhaus; Berthold Seitz; Elisabeth M Messmer; Tobias Meyer-ter-...; Nadezda Basara; Hildegard Greinix; Manuel B Datiles; Stephanie J Lee; Steven Z Pavletic; Daniel Wolff
• Keywords: Immunosuppression; Blinding

Ocular chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is one of the most frequent long-term complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and often associated with significant morbidity reduced quality life.The German/Austrian/Swiss Consensus Conference on Clinical Practice in cGVHD aimed to summarize currently available evidence for diagnosis (topical) treatment different modalities ocular cGVHD. The presented consensus was based a review published survey current clinical practice including transplant centers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland.Ocular affects lacrimal glands, conjunctiva, lids (including meibomian glands), cornea but can also involve other parts eye such as sclera. Up now, there have been no pathognomonic diagnostic features identified. main therapeutic aim management inflammation dryness relieve patients' symptoms maintain integrity function. Therapy should be chosen context patient's overall condition, systemic immunosuppressive therapy, symptoms, surface integrity, inflammatory activity. conference proposed new grading criteria recommendations general monitoring patients graft-versus-host-disease use practice.The levels are low, options empirical knowledge. Topical immunosuppression, example, cyclosporine, represents promising strategy reduce Further trials necessary elucidate risk factors manifestation, complications, visual loss evaluate staging measures