Graft-versus-Host Disease-like Syndrome in Malignant Thymoma

Allogenic transfusion of immunocompetent T lymphocytes into an immunodeficient recipient is necessary for the development of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most involved organs in human GVHD, and single-cell necrosis with apoptotic change and crypt abscess...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology 2000, Vol.35 (6), p.667-670
Main Authors: WANG, M. H, WONG, J. M, WANG, C. Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsy, Needle
Colitis - diagnosis
Colitis - immunology
Colitis - pathology
Colonoscopy
Diagnosis, Differential
Fatal Outcome
Female
Graft vs Host Disease - diagnosis
Graft vs Host Disease - immunology
Humans
Medical sciences
Myasthenia Gravis - complications
Myasthenia Gravis - diagnosis
Pneumology
Respiratory Tract Infections - immunology
Syndrome
Thymoma - complications
Thymoma - diagnosis
Thymoma - pathology
Thymus Neoplasms - complications
Thymus Neoplasms - diagnosis
Tropical medicine
Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum
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Summary:Allogenic transfusion of immunocompetent T lymphocytes into an immunodeficient recipient is necessary for the development of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most involved organs in human GVHD, and single-cell necrosis with apoptotic change and crypt abscess are characteristic histopathologic features. The thymus is important in immune regulation, and dysregulation of the immune system can be expected once its microenvironment is disrupted. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman with malignant thymoma without transplantation or transfusion history who initially presented with myasthenia gravis and clinically developed a GVHD-like syndrome with characteristic GVHD-like colitis on colonoscopy. We propose that disruption of the thymic microenvironment caused a dysregulated immune system and development of a GVHD-like syndrome.
ISSN:0036-5521
1502-7708
DOI:10.1080/003655200750023660