A patient who had a bone marrow transplant 10 days ago develops a maculopapular rash on the palms of both hands and the soles of the feet. The patient complains of severe abdominal pain with bloody diarrhea. The nurse would anticipate providing care for which condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms of a maculopapular rash on the palms and soles, as well as abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, are indicative of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD occurs when the transplanted donor cells recognize the host tissues as foreign and attack them. This can manifest in various ways, including skin rashes, gastrointestinal complications, and liver dysfunction. Chronic and acute tissue rejection typically involve different symptoms, such as fever, pain at the transplant site, and decreased organ function. Hyperacute tissue rejection is rare in bone marrow transplants and usually occurs immediately after the transplant, rather than 10 days later.

A Patient Who Had a Bone Marrow Transplant 10 Days