graft-versus-host disease

(... dih-ZEEZ) A disease caused when cells from a donated stem cell graft attack the normal tissue of the transplant patient. Symptoms include jaundice, skin rash or blisters, a dry mouth, or dry eyes. Also called GVHD.

The rejection of transplanted organs by the recipient's immune system, due to attack of the recipient's T lymphocyte s on the transplanted organ caused by differences in major histocompatibility complex proteins.