[HLA typing in a neonate with posttransfusional graft vs host disease (PT-GVHD)]

The authors report a case of post-transfusion-graft-versus-host disease (PT-GVHD) in a premature infant after parental blood donation. This disease seems to be due to the transfusion of immunocompetent T lymphocytes into an immunodeficient recipient or into an immunocompetent host who shares an HLA haplotype with HLA-homozygous blood donors (i.e. relatives or members of inbred populations) and who is therefore unable to reject the graft cells. The results of HLA typing of the patient and his family demonstrated that the infant was identical with his father for HLA class II antigens (DR, DQ) and, concerning HLA class I, he had in common the remaining paternal haplotype (A29, B44). Prevention of this disease, performed by gamma irradiation of blood components before transfusion, appears to be effective in most cases.