IMMUNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SKIN IN GRAFT VERSUS HOST-DISEASE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (1) , 123-131
Abstract
Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on skin biopsies from patients suffering from graft vs. host disease (GVHD) following bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anemia and leukemia. Lymphoid cells infiltrating the skin were exclusively T cells with the OKT8+ phenotype and these are probably cytotoxic T cells. Langerhans cells were reduced in number in all specimens and a variable number of HLA-DR positive macrophages were seen in the dermis. In several cases HLA-DR antigens were expressed on keratinocytes. The results show consistent features which may help discriminate rashes in the skin in the post-transplant period.