Ann Rehabil Med.  2019 Jun;43(3):347-351. 10.5535/arm.2019.43.3.347.

Rehabilitation in Children With Sclerodermoid Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: Case Series

• Jung M
• Sung IY
• Ko EJ

• KMID: 2453926
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2019.43.3.347

Abstract

Joint contracture in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is refractory to treatment, and tends to deteriorate gradually over time. There is scant clinical research focusing on timing and intensity of rehabilitation on joint contractures in children with sclerodermoid cGVHD after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We retrospectively reviewed rehabilitative therapeutic effects in 6 children with sclerodermoid cGVHD, whose clinical records documented their condition, before and after rehabilitation therapies. Three children who started treatment within a mean of 2 months after the onset of joint symptoms, and who underwent home-based exercise twice daily for 30 minutes showed more prominent improvement in range of motion compared with the other 3 children, who started rehabilitation therapy later than 6 months after onset of joint symptoms, without regular home-based exercise.

Keyword

Graft vs host disease; Joint contracture; Rehabilitation

MeSH Terms

Child*
Contracture
Graft vs Host Disease*
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Humans
Joints
Range of Motion, Articular
Rehabilitation*
Retrospective Studies
Therapeutic Uses
Therapeutic Uses

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Appearance of the affected extremities in patient with sclerodermoid chronic graft-versus-host disease.

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  Fig. 2. Elbow joint contracture at the first assessment.

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  Fig. 3. Improved elbow joint contracture after five sessions of therapy.

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