Graft versus host disease after transfusions of non-irradiated blood cells in patients having received autologous bone marrow. A report of 4 cases following ablative chemotherapy for solid tumors.

In four patients with solid tumors (three small cell lung cancers, one germ cell cancer) high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow infusion was given. Graft versus host disease (GVHD) was the cause of death in one patient and at autopsy signs of GVHD were found in the other three patients. In these four patients GVHD was caused by blood cell transfusion. Patients treated with aggressive chemotherapy for solid tumors are at risk for the development of GVHD after allogeneic blood cell transfusions and preventive measures are definitely needed.