Graft-versus-Host Disease after Living-Unrelated Kidney Transplantation

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a rare complication after solid organ transplantation and consists of a reaction of donor derived immune cells directed against host tissues. The vast majority of cases reported in the literature involve liver, small intestine and pancreas transplantation. We repo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: N. Zacharias, M. H. Gallichio, D. J. Conti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Transplantation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/971426
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832552233552576512
author N. Zacharias
M. H. Gallichio
D. J. Conti
author_facet N. Zacharias
M. H. Gallichio
D. J. Conti
author_sort N. Zacharias
collection DOAJ
description Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a rare complication after solid organ transplantation and consists of a reaction of donor derived immune cells directed against host tissues. The vast majority of cases reported in the literature involve liver, small intestine and pancreas transplantation. We report a case of GVHD in a 48-year-old man after living-unrelated kidney transplantation at another center. Six months postoperatively he developed a skin rash, anorexia, and diarrhea that resulted in malnutrition and a 90 pound weight loss. At this point he was transferred to our center with a BMI of 16 and severe cachexia. Intravenous hyperalimentation was initiated and an extensive work-up for an infectious etiology was performed and was negative. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed and revealed nodularity of the gastric mucosa, atrophy, and edema in the first and second portion of his duodenum. Biopsy findings were consistent with GVHD. Aggressive immunosuppressive therapy was instituted with a good response. The anorexia and diarrhea resolved, and he was discharged on hospital day 20. Three months later, there had been no recurrence of the diarrhea, the patient had gained an additional 40 pounds, BMI of 25, and a repeat upper endoscopy revealed complete resolution of the initial endoscopic abnormalities.
format Article
id doaj-art-84d908819fa04a9d93cbcd254a0fce7d
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-6943
2090-6951
language English
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Case Reports in Transplantation
spelling doaj-art-84d908819fa04a9d93cbcd254a0fce7d2025-02-03T05:59:16ZengWileyCase Reports in Transplantation2090-69432090-69512014-01-01201410.1155/2014/971426971426Graft-versus-Host Disease after Living-Unrelated Kidney TransplantationN. Zacharias0M. H. Gallichio1D. J. Conti2Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USASection of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USASection of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USAGraft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a rare complication after solid organ transplantation and consists of a reaction of donor derived immune cells directed against host tissues. The vast majority of cases reported in the literature involve liver, small intestine and pancreas transplantation. We report a case of GVHD in a 48-year-old man after living-unrelated kidney transplantation at another center. Six months postoperatively he developed a skin rash, anorexia, and diarrhea that resulted in malnutrition and a 90 pound weight loss. At this point he was transferred to our center with a BMI of 16 and severe cachexia. Intravenous hyperalimentation was initiated and an extensive work-up for an infectious etiology was performed and was negative. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed and revealed nodularity of the gastric mucosa, atrophy, and edema in the first and second portion of his duodenum. Biopsy findings were consistent with GVHD. Aggressive immunosuppressive therapy was instituted with a good response. The anorexia and diarrhea resolved, and he was discharged on hospital day 20. Three months later, there had been no recurrence of the diarrhea, the patient had gained an additional 40 pounds, BMI of 25, and a repeat upper endoscopy revealed complete resolution of the initial endoscopic abnormalities.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/971426
spellingShingle N. Zacharias
M. H. Gallichio
D. J. Conti
Graft-versus-Host Disease after Living-Unrelated Kidney Transplantation
Case Reports in Transplantation
title Graft-versus-Host Disease after Living-Unrelated Kidney Transplantation
title_full Graft-versus-Host Disease after Living-Unrelated Kidney Transplantation
title_fullStr Graft-versus-Host Disease after Living-Unrelated Kidney Transplantation
title_full_unstemmed Graft-versus-Host Disease after Living-Unrelated Kidney Transplantation
title_short Graft-versus-Host Disease after Living-Unrelated Kidney Transplantation
title_sort graft versus host disease after living unrelated kidney transplantation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/971426
work_keys_str_mv AT nzacharias graftversushostdiseaseafterlivingunrelatedkidneytransplantation
AT mhgallichio graftversushostdiseaseafterlivingunrelatedkidneytransplantation
AT djconti graftversushostdiseaseafterlivingunrelatedkidneytransplantation