Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplant

Acute graft-versus-host disease is an extremely rare complication after pediatric liver transplant. Despite a better prognosis in pediatric than in adult recipients, graft-versus-host disease is associated with high mortality. We report 2 cases of pediatric recipients with acute graft-versus-host disease; both had identical clinical presentation. Remission was achieved in both patients, but the first patient developed Epstein-Barr virus-induced posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease and recurrence of graft-versus-host disease after the immunosuppression regimen was altered. The treatment options and clinical considerations for care of such patients are discussed. It is important to maintain a high degree of suspicion for graft-versus-host disease in every posttransplant patient with persistent skin rash, with or without fever and diarrhea, and confirm the diagnosis.