ICD-Code K77.22: Stage 2 chronic hepatic graft-versus-host disease

After you were given immune cells or blood stem cells from another person, your liver got damaged.

Stem cells are cells that can develop into different types of cells. Blood cells develop from the blood stem cells. In adults, blood stem cells are mainly found inside some bones. From there the mature blood cells are released into the blood. A small amount of blood stem cells also enters the blood. Blood is made up of a liquid part and different blood cells, among other things. The blood cells include the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets. White blood cells are part of the body’s immune system. They fight pathogens.

Foreign immune cells can, for example, arise from blood stem cells that were obtained from another person in the past. The foreign immune cells can disrupt the immune system. The immune system normally protects the body from pathogens and foreign substances. However, in your case, your immune system has damaged your liver.

When the liver is damaged there can be a variety of symptoms. The liver may break down less bile pigment, for example. Bile pigments result when old blood cells are broken down. When less bile pigment is broken down the skin can look yellow, for example. When the liver is damaged, you can also feel weak and ill.