Graft-versus-host diseases characterized by effusion: A case of steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease

Our case was prominently characterized by anasarca manifested as follows: systemic edema, massive ascites and pleural effusion. We speculated that acute/chronic GVHD with anasarca has an immunological propensity for proinflammatory and the Th2 cytokine milieu. We advocate that immunological modification by biologic agents such as tocilizumab would be promising theoretically for the treatment of such type of GVHD.