Oral Graft Versus Host Disease: a guide for the primary care dental team.

Abstract

Patients diagnosed with a haematological malignancy who undergo haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) are likely to experience oral symptoms at different stages of their treatment. This can range from oral mucositis during conditioning regimes to graft vs host disease (GvHD) post-transplant for those who have undergone allografting. Oral mucosal chronic GvHD is a well-recognised complication of HSCT. An increased risk of oral malignancy in patients who have undergone HSCT requires frequent oral mucosal screening for these patients, so that oral mucosal disease is recognised, treated where applicable, and monitored accordingly both in the short term and long term. This article explores the oral manifestations of GvHD and the dental implications for patients, and it aims to provide an update for primary care dental professionals on the presentation, recognition and management of oral GvHD.