What is the primary complication associated with a bone marrow transplant?

The primary complication associated with a bone marrow transplant is graft versus host disease (GVHD). This condition occurs when the transplanted immune cells from the donor recognize the recipient’s body tissues as foreign and mount an immune response against them. This can lead to a range of symptoms affecting various organs, particularly the skin, liver, and gastrointestinal tract.

GVHD can be acute or chronic, with acute GVHD typically occurring within the first few months post-transplant and chronic GVHD potentially developing later, often resulting in long-lasting effects. The management of GVHD can be challenging and requires careful monitoring and treatment, sometimes involving immunosuppressive therapies to minimize the immune response.

While anemia, fatigue, infection risks, and bone pain can also occur as complications of bone marrow transplants, these are often secondary effects or related to the overall condition of the patient rather than being the primary complication driven by the transplant process itself. Therefore, GVHD stands out as the most significant and primary concern post-transplant.