Human posttransfusion graft-versus-host disease.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVDH) follows blood product transfusions in patients with deficient cell-mediated immunity. The rate of mortality in this adverse effect of blood transfusions is between 90 and 100%. The historical; clinical and pathologic; and mechanism of acute and chronic GVHD are presented. The patients at risk, the clinical and pathologic features of posttransfusion GVDH have been presented in hopes that, with increased awareness of this usually fatal complication, clinicians and transfusion therapists may more intelligently advise and select patients who may need lymphocyte-poor or irradiated blood products and may recognize the syndrome earlier.