Transfusion-Associated Graft-vs- Host Disease (TA-GVHD)

Description

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a life-threatening complication that may occur in immunocompromised patient following the transfusion of cellular blood components (red cell concentrates, platelet concentrates, granulocyte concentrates).

In rare circumstances, TA-GVHD may occur in immunocompetent patients who receive HLA-matched blood components or transfusions from first-degree family members (namely, parents, children, siblings) due to shared specificities at the major histocompatibility complex. For example, if the patient is heterozygous at an HLA locus and the donor is homozygous for one of the corresponding loci, the immunocompetent patient will not recognize the donor as foreign.