Infectious Disease Considerations in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease and Transplantation Survivors

Chronic graft-versus-host disease is a frequent and serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and is associated with an increased risk of serious infections. Impaired humoral immunity increases the risk of recurrent or severe sinopulmonary infections, and functional asplenia predisposes to infections from encapsulated organisms. Herpesvirus infections and community-acquired respiratory viral infections are problematic as well. Pneumocystis pneumonia remains a risk, and mold infections occur in some patients. Understanding the epidemiology and pathophysiology of these infections is important for determining optimal monitoring and prophylaxis, and guiding patient counseling.