Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the main cause of hepatic veno-occlusive disease, which is the early complication of this procedure with the highest short-term morbidity and mortality.
Given that mortality from severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease can be nearly 100%, the search for measures to prevent of treat this complication is essential.
Several risk factors for this complication have been identified and the triggering event that leads to sinusoidal obstruction has been shown to be sinusoidal endothelial cell injury.
The present review analyzes measures to avoid or modify the casual risk factors for this complication, as well as the pharmacological agents that can prevent or modify the initial endothelial dysfunction or the resulting sinusoidal occlusion.