title: Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD) is a fatal complication of transfusion of blood products that usually affects immunocompromised patients. Herein, we present our experience with a diabetic patient who had undergone cardiopulmonary bypass and developed TA-GVHD. The chronological order of events observed were fresh whole-blood transfusion from relatives, fever, rash, liver dysfunction, and pancytopenia. Skin biopsies demonstrated GVHD involvement. The patient died within 3 weeks after the transfusions despite prompt treatment. GVHD must be considered in the differential diagnosis if a patient with a recent transfusion history admits with fever, skin rash, abnormal liver function tests, and pancytopenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: hasibesunul@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hasibe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sunul
authors.forename: Nedret
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erguven
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
keywords: Fatal; Graft versus host disease; Transfusion