The clinical diagnosis of acute graft-versus-host disease: a diversity of views amongst marrow transplant centers

Abstract

The diagnosis and grading of acute graft-versus-host disease (AGVHD) is based on a spectrum of clinical and laboratory features. To evaluate the reliability of current diagnostic and scoring criteria, six clinical vignettes were evaluated by 49 transplant physicians from 42 bone marrow transplant center worldwide. Responses were analysed to determine: (1) the degree of concordance among transplanters in diagnosing, scoring and treating AGVHD, and (2) the degree of concordance in assigning primary and contributing causes of death in patients with multiple complications of bone marrow transplantation. Concordance for the diagnosis of AGVHD ranged from 24 to 76%; concordance for grading AGVHD was 55%. Concordance for the decision to treat for AGVHD ranged from 43 to 55%; concordance for assigning the primary cause of death ranged from 71 to 100%. The findings demonstrate the need for (1) improved uniformity of reporting complications of bone marrow transplantation; (2) periodic revision and validation of diagnostic and grading criteria, and (3) methods of analysis that allow for multiple causes of death.