Disseminated intravascular coagulation in transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease. Report of two cases

Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1995 Jan-Feb;25(1):31-8.

Abstract

In two cases of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD), severe bleeding tendencies were observed besides the characteristic features of the disease. An elevation of fibrin degradation products (FDP), D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) and plasmin-alpha 2 plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC), was revealed. These findings were compatible with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). To our knowledge, the association of TA-GVHD and DIC has not been described, and it is our speculation that allogeneic immune reactions may play some pathogenic role in developing DIC in TA-GVHD. The DIC may be responsible for the rapid progression of multiple organ failure (MOF) in TA-GVHD.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antifibrinolytic Agents / analysis
  • Antithrombin III / analysis
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / etiology*
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / pathology
  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / analysis
  • Fibrinolysin / analysis
  • Graft vs Host Disease / etiology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • HLA Antigens / analysis
  • Hemostasis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptide Hydrolases / analysis
  • Transfusion Reaction*
  • alpha-2-Antiplasmin*

Substances

  • Antifibrinolytic Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products
  • HLA Antigens
  • alpha-2-Antiplasmin
  • antithrombin III-protease complex
  • plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex
  • Antithrombin III
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Fibrinolysin