graft-versus-host disease

American  

[graft-vur-suhs-hohst, grahft-] / ˈgræftˌvɜr səsˈhoʊst, ˈgrɑft- /

noun

1. a reaction in which the cells of transplanted tissue immunologically attack the cells of the host organism, occurring especially in bone-marrow transplants.

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Etymology

Origin of graft-versus-host disease

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

graft-versus-host disease

I also experienced the risky complication known as graft-versus-host disease, in which donor immune cells, even when they are a lifesaving match, attack the recipient’s body—sometimes fatally.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

Even so, historical data suggest 10 - 15% of patients would experience severe graft-versus-host disease with standard treatment, according to the investigators.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 5, 2024

Brown and the London patient also suffered from graft-versus-host disease as the transplanted immune systems attacked other recipient tissues as foreign.

From Science Magazine ● Mar. 4, 2019

Donor stem cells can go on the attack post-transplant, a condition known as graft-versus-host disease.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 10, 2018

They use natural killer cells because T cells from one person cannot be safely given to another, lest they attack the host’s tissue, causing graft-versus-host disease, which can be fatal.

From New York Times ● Jul. 23, 2017