Pleuropericarditis, obliterative bronchiolitis and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation, with pulmonary involvement occurring in 5-10% of cases. Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is recognised as a diagnostic manifestation of chronic GVHD, whereas lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (LIP) has been reported but is not considered diagnostic, and pleuritis is not clearly associated. The authors describe a transplant patient who simultaneously manifested three distinct pulmonary processes: OB, patchy LIP and pleuropericarditis. The onset of these entities along with other manifestations of chronic GVHD, their resolution with increased immunosuppression and their recurrence upon tapering support all three entities as manifestations of GVHD in the lungs.