Graft-versus-host reaction affecting lesional skin but not normal skin in a patient with piebaldism

Br J Dermatol. 1996 Jan;134(1):134-7.

Abstract

A case of graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) arising solely within an area affected by piebaldism is described. The patient, a 35-year-old woman with a single hypopigmented patch on the right leg present since birth, had received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) from an HLA-identical sibling donor, for treatment of a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Beginning on day +38 post-BMT, the patch developed changes which were histologically consistent with GVHD. Syngeneic mixed epidermal cell-lymphocyte reaction (MECLR) testing of tissue from the patch, and from adjacent normal skin, showed differences which suggest that piebaldism-affected skin is immunologically different from normal skin. These findings may offer new insight into the pathophysiology of this disorder.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts / therapy
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Epidermis / immunology
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / etiology*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Piebaldism / complications*
  • Piebaldism / immunology
  • Piebaldism / pathology