
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease pathophysiology
Introduction
Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.
Overview
Overview
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GvHD) is a rare complication of blood transfusion, in which the donor T lymphocytes mount an immune response against the recipient’s lymphoid tissue. Donor lymphocytes are usually identified as foreign and destroyed by the recipient’s immune system. However, in situations where the recipient is immunocompromised (inborn immunodeficiency, acquired immunodeficiency, malignancy), or when the donor is homozygous and the recipient is heterozygous for an HLA haplotype (as can occur in directed donations from first-degree relatives), the recipient’s immune system is not able to destroy the donor lymphocytes. This can result in graft versus host disease.
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
