Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease

From IDWiki

Background

  • Caused by transfusion of immune cells that mount an immune response against the recipient's tissue
  • Usually in immunocompromised patients or patients who receive haploidentical blood products
  • Rare
  • Mortality over 90%, most mediated by severe sepsis

Clinical Manifestations

  • Usually starts 1 to 2 weeks after transfusion
  • Fever, rash, liver dysfunction, and diarrhea, followed by pancytopenia

Management

  • Supportive care (including antibiotics)

Prevention

  • Use irradiated blood components for recipients at high risk
  • High risk patients include: