Abstract:
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a rare, almost always fatal complication of a blood
transfusion. It occurs much more commonly after bone marrow transplantation, a setting
in which it is less severe—mortality rate of 20–25% following transplantation versus 80–
90% when associated with a transfusion. Transfusion associated GVHD occurs in two set-
tings: when the recipient is immunodeficient; and when there is a specific type of partial
HLA matching between the donor and recipient. Here we present a case of transfusion
associated GVHD which developed when a 2 year old immunocompetent girl was given
whole blood which was taken by his father. Inspite of very intense therapy with parental
steroids and oral cyclosporine the child succumbed to death.
