Dry Eye Associated with Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is an established treatment for a variety of hematologic malignancies and some cancers. Because the survival rate in SCT recipients has significantly improved, quality of life and the late complications after SCT in long-term survivors have become increasingly important in the clinical setting.“ One of the most common late complications in SCT recipients is chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) that affects skin, lung, lacrimal and salivary glands Chronic GVHDassociated dry eye is prevalent and sometimes leads to blindness. However, clinical and histological characteristics, as well as the pathogenic process of lacrimal gland involvement in cGVHD are not well understood. The purpose of our ongoing studies is to clarify some of these issues.cGVHD, CD4⁺and CD8⁺T cells were co-localized with stromal fibroblasts in periductal area, whereas only CD8⁺T cells infiltrated into the acinar and ductal epithelia.