Treatment and Nursing for Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

This article focuses on steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR aGVHD), a severe complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) characterized by inflammation primarily affecting the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and liver. SR aGVHD occurs when patients do not respond to first-line corticosteroid treatment and is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare resource utilization. Current second-line treatments include ruxolitinib (a Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor), extracorporeal photopheresis, human-derived alpha-1 antitrypsin, antithymocyte globulin, and investigational approaches like fecal microbiota transplantation, though no standardized therapy exists. The article emphasizes the critical role of oncology nurses in symptom monitoring, patient education, psychosocial support, and coordination of complex care to improve outcomes for this vulnerable patient population.