A 40-year-old patient develops severe watery diarrhea and a diffuse maculopapular rash 3 weeks after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia. Biopsy of the skin shows lymphocyte infiltration at the dermo-epidermal junction. Which organ is the third classic target of this condition?
- A Liver ✓
- B Kidney
- C Lung
- D Pancreas
Correct answer: A. Liver
Explanation
Acute graft-versus-host disease classically targets three organs: the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and liver. The skin presents with a maculopapular rash, the GI tract with watery diarrhea, and the liver with elevated bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase due to bile duct damage. The kidney, lung, and pancreas are not classic targets of acute GVHD, though other transplant complications can affect them.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.