Summary
This phase II trial studies the treatment response for patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD occurs when donor immune cells attack the healthy tissue of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant patient. The standard treatment for GVHD is to lower the activity of the donor cells by using steroid medications such as prednisone. But steroid treatment may cause many complications and the risk of these complications increases with higher doses of steroids and longer treatment. It is important to find ways to decrease the steroid treatment in patients who do not need long courses. Researchers are doing this study to find out how many subjects respond well to lower steroid dosing based on a blood test (GVHD biomarker) and if they develop fewer complications.