Insights into immune mechanisms of ocular graft-versus-host disease / 中华实验眼科杂志

ABSTRACT

Ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, the diagnostic criteria for ocular GVHD are controversial and mainly based on clinical experience.Objective and reliable diagnostic parameters for this disease are limited.As a result, most patients can not get early diagnosis and effective management.Tear cytokine profile analysis is a safe, convenient and noninvasive examination which reflects immune mechanisms of systemic and ocular diseases.Levels of certain cytokines in tear can serve as specific biomarkers of GVHD and thus have the potential to act as accurate diagnostic and prognostic tools.In this article, the current status of ocular GVHD diagnosis was summarized, the role of cytokines in immune mechanism and diagnosis of ocular GVHD were reviewed.