Which treatment is often employed for HSCT patients experiencing severe GVHD?

Immunosuppressive therapies are commonly employed for patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) who are experiencing severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) because GVHD is an immune-mediated condition where the infused donor immune cells attack the recipient's tissues. This can result in significant morbidity and complications.

The main goal of using immunosuppressive therapies in this context is to reduce the immune response of the donor's T cells, thereby alleviating the effects of GVHD. Common immunosuppressive agents used include corticosteroids (like prednisone) and other medications such as calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus, cyclosporine) or monoclonal antibodies (like antithymocyte globulin or rituximab).

These therapies are crucial for managing severe cases of GVHD and can significantly improve the quality of life and survival of affected patients by targeted suppression of the immune system, allowing the patient's own tissues to recover without aggressive immune attacks from the transplant.

Options such as using antibiotics for secondary infections, regular blood transfusions, or strict isolation measures only can play important roles in the overall care of the HSCT patient but do not specifically address the underlying pathophysiology of GVHD. Antibi