321 - Dental Treatment of a Child with Graft vs Host Disease

Saturday, May 24, 2025

12:30 PM - 12:45 PM MDT

Has Audio

Presenting Author(s)

Jennison Smith, DMD (he/him/his)

Resident
Cohen Children’s Medical Center of Long Island Jewish Hospital, Queens, NY
Cohen Children’s Medical Center of Long Island Jewish Hospital
Queens, New York, United States

Program Director(s)

SK

Sheeba Kurian, DDS

Chief & Program Director
Northwell Health Cohen Children's Medical Center
New Hyde Park, New York, United States

Abstract: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a key therapeutic option for a range of hematologic, genetic, oncologic, and immunologic disorders. HSCT is associated with substantial risks including toxicity from conditioning regimens, marked neutropenia, significant immunosuppression, and the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Despite the use of preventive strategies, chronic GVHD (cGVHD) remains a prevalent complication following allogeneic HSCT, leading to notable morbidity and mortality. The condition frequently impacts the skin, gastrointestinal system, and liver. Approximately 20% of matched sibling transplant recipients and 40% of matched unrelated donor recipients develop cGVHD. This case report focuses on the management of an 11-year-old female pediatric dental patient with sickle cell disease, treated with HSCT who presented with symptoms related to cGVHD. This report demonstrates the important role the dental team can play in early diagnosis of cGVHD and highlights the effect an interdisciplinary approach can play in positively influencing patient quality of life.

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