Fatal graft-versus-host disease following transfusion of granulocytes from normal donors

Abstract

A case of fatal graft-versus-host disease was seen in an adult with acute leukaemia, after transfusion of leucocytes from normal donors. This is the first reported case of graft-versus-host disease following transfusion of normal blood-products to a patient with a disease not usually associated with severe immunoincompetence. The number of lymphocytes transfused was no higher than that given when platelet concentrates are prepared from a single donor.