Cord Colitis Syndrome in Cord-Blood Stem-Cell Transplantation

Abstract

To the Editor: According to Herrera et al. (Sept. 1 issue),¹ the cord colitis syndrome is distinct from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We think that this conclusion lacks the evidence needed for defining a new disease entity and that its manifestations are concordant with a delayed GVHD reaction. Late colitis associated with high mortality was first described in mice after allogeneic and xenogeneic (rat) bone marrow transplantation.² This colitis in mice was responsive to antibiotics.³ Furthermore, the histopathological findings in the cord colitis syndrome are consistent with the lesions described in monkeys and mice with chronic GVHD⁴ and are not at . . .