Unsuccessful treatment of four patients with acute graft-vs-host disease after liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate appropriate therapeutic strategies for graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) following liver transplantation.


METHODS
Four patients who developed GVHD after liver transplantation in West China Hospital were included in this study. Therapeutic strategies with augmentation or withdrawal of immunosuppressants combined with supportive therapy were investigated in these patients. In addition, a literature review of patients who developed GVHD after liver transplantation was performed.


RESULTS
Although a transient response to initial treatment was detected, all four patients died of complications from GVHD: one from sepsis with multiple organ failure, one from gastrointestinal bleeding, and the other two from sepsis with gastrointestinal bleeding. Few consensuses for the treatment of GVHD after liver transplantation have been reached.


CONCLUSIONS
New and effective treatments are required for GVHD after liver transplantation to improve the prognosis of patients with this diagnosis.
Department of Liver and Vascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
Xiao-Bo
XB
Chen
Jie
J
Yang
Ming-Qing
MQ
Xu
Tian-Fu
TF
Wen
Lu-Nan
LN
Yan
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents