Scabies mimicking graft versus host disease in a hematopoietic cell transplant recipient.

Author: Dongsub KIM ¹ ; Soo Han CHOI ; Dong Youn LEE ; Juyoun KIM ; Eunjoo CHO ; Keon Hee YOO ; Hong Hoe KOO ; Yae Jean KIM
Author Information

1. Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yaejeankim@skku.edu
Publication Type:Case Report
Keywords: Scabies; Graft versus host disease; Hematopoietic cell transplant
MeSH: Diagnosis; Graft vs Host Disease*; Humans; Immune System; Inflammation; Mites; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Pruritus; Sarcoptes scabiei; Scabies*; Skin; Transplants*
From:Korean Journal of Pediatrics 2018;61(11):371-373
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: Scabies is a highly contagious skin infestation caused by the mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Complex responses to scabies mites in the innate, humoral, and cellular immune systems can cause skin inflammation and pruritus. Diagnosis can be challenging because scabies resembles other common skin conditions. We report the first Korean case of scabies in a hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipient, initially suspected of skin graft versus host disease (GVHD). A T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia patient underwent a sibling-matched allogeneic HCT and developed pruritus after cell engraftment. Treatment for GVHD did not improve the symptoms. He was diagnosed with scabies 30 days after the onset of symptoms.