Fulminant skin GvHD with a cytokine pattern resemblant of cytokine release syndrome successfully treated with multimodal immunosuppression including tocilizumab

Abstract

Acute Graft-versus-Host-Disease (GvHD) is a potentially life-threatening complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. If not treated early and adequately, the complex immunological mechanisms may lead to a self-perpetuating cycle of alloreactivity, which is then associated with a high mortality. Here we assessed the cytokine profile on a daily basis in a patient with grade 4 skin GvHD, demonstrating a signature resembling cytokine-release-syndrome. After multimodal immunosuppressive intervention, including treatment with the IL6 receptor-blocking antibody tocilizumab, the severe clinical symptoms unexpectedly resolved within 48 hr.

Keywords: acute GvHD; cytokine profile; cytokine release syndrome; stem cell transplantation; tocilizumab.