Large-vessel vasculitis in graft-versus-host disease: a case report

• Main Authors: Anmar Al-Heilfi, Champa Nataraja, Helen Cooley, Tracey Batt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021-09-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Subjects: Graft-versus-host disease; Large-vessel vasculitis; Allogenic stem cell transplant
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-021-03067-y

Abstract Background Graft-versus-host disease is a common complication seen with allogenic stem cell transplant, which is used to treat a variety of hematological malignancies. Graft-versus-host disease is an allogenic syndrome and can present in a variety of ways, including symptoms mimicking various autoimmune diseases; however, it is quite rare to see graft-versus-host disease affecting the vascular system and causing vasculitis. Case presentation We describe a case of a 59-year-old Caucasian man with follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell transformation who developed graft-versus-host disease post allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and later progressed to neurological complication foot drop and large-vessel vasculitis. Conclusion The life-threatening vascular complications associated with large-vessel vasculitis include arterial aneurysms and dissections, and ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Thus, this rare immunological association needs to be recognized and treated in a timely manner to prevent the long-term complications.