Transfusion
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Review Case Reports
Nonlethal, attenuated, transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease in an immunocompromised child: case report and review of the literature.
Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a rare complication of transfusion of nonirradiated blood components. It usually affects children in high-risk groups, including those who have primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs). It usually presents with skin, hepatic, digestive, and hematologic involvement and is normally fatal. ⋯ A high index of suspicion is required for the diagnosis and proper management of PID. The administration of nonirradiated blood components in the first year of life, sometimes before the clinical suspicion of a PID, is of great concern. TA-GVHD may be more prevalent than reported in the literature and it is possibly a nonidentified cause of death in recipients with unexplained death and nondiagnosed PID.