Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Pediatric Intestinal Graft-Versus-Host Disease: A Case Series

Intestinal graft-versus-host disease (I-GvHD) represents a life-threatening complication in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Unfortunately, non-invasive validated diagnostic tools to diagnose I-GvHD, evaluate treatment response, and guide the duration of immunosuppression are still lacking. We employed standard ultrasound power Doppler follow up on pediatric intestinal GvHD. herein report three patients, prospectively evaluated among 24 patients referred our center for SCT. These presented abdominal pain diarrhea within first 200 days after transplantation. In reported cases, we performed small- large-intestine (US) at clinical onset lower-intestinal symptoms and, when GvHD was confirmed, flares, if any, follow-up. US constantly (3/3 patients) revealed increased bowel wall thickening (BWT) with different segments’ involvement from patient patient. Further, moderate or strong signaling seen 2 out 3 according GVHD staging (e.g., more increase, staging). Standard sonography corroborated diagnosis all considered able detect progression complete normalization findings, thus simplifying ensuing decisions. Our highlights need design trials validation radiologic follow-up GvHD, especially patients.