Graft-versus-host disease laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Shyam Patel [2]

The laboratory findings for GvHD focus on the organs involved. The most common laboratory findings include elevation of liver enzymes and total bilirubin. Other organ systems that are affected are not typically associated with abnormal laboratory findings.

• Skin: There are no specific laboratory findings for skin GvHD. If there is a skin infection, the white blood cell count can be elevated.

• Liver: Laboratory findings indicative of liver involvements may include:
  • Elevated total bilirubin (mostly conjugated bilirubin) – Note that high bilirubin is a diagnostic criteria for liver GvHD.
  • Elevated alkaline phosphatase
  • Elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)
  • Elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
  • Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
  • Hypoalbuminemia
  • Elevated prothrombin time (PT)
  • Elevated partial thromboplastin time (PTT)

• GI tract: There are no specific laboratory findings for skin GvHD. However, if there is concurrent infection, the white blood cell can be elevated. In some cases, ESR and CRP can be elevated if there is inflammation.

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