Hemolytic reaction due to graft-versus-host (GVH) antibody production after liver transplantation from living donors: report of two cases

Surg Today. 1998;28(8):857-61. doi: 10.1007/s005950050242.

Abstract

Among 27 patients who received minor ABO-incompatible partial liver transplantations and 19 who received major ABO-incompatible partial liver transplantations from living donors, 2 developed hemolytic anemia within 2 weeks after transplantation. These 2 patients had received livers from their living fathers whose blood type was ABO-incompatible. B-to-A transplantation was performed in patient 1 and O-to-B transplantation was performed in patient 2. Anti-A IgM and IgG were detected in the serum of patient 1, and anti-B IgM and IgG were detected in the serum of patient 2. These antibodies were eluted from the red blood cells of the patients. The coexistence of donor-specific DNA in the peripheral blood of the patients proved that they had chimerism, and graft-versus-host antibody production due to passenger B lymphocytes in the donor's liver was subsequently confirmed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • ABO Blood-Group System
  • Anemia, Hemolytic / etiology*
  • Antibody Formation
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA / analysis
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Infant
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Liver Transplantation / immunology*
  • Living Donors*
  • Male

Substances

  • ABO Blood-Group System
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • DNA