ICD-Code J99.21: Stage 1 chronic pulmonary graft-versus-host disease

You developed a disease of the lungs after you were given immune cells or blood stem cells from another person.

You need lungs to breathe. When we breathe in, oxygen enters the lungs and accumulates in the blood. This blood then flows to the heart. The heart then pumps the oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. All of the organs are supplied with oxygen as a result.

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 attacked tissue in your lungs.

When the lungs are attacked by the immune system, they can become inflamed. As a result, the small airways in the lungs narrow, so that less air enters the lungs. This may then cause shortness of breath, for example.

Your lung function is slightly impaired.