LOW-DOSE HEPARIN INHIBITS ACUTE GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE IN MICE

We have studied the effect of low-dose heparin on GVHD, marrow engraft ment and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects in an experimental murine model. Recipient (C57BL/6 X BALB/c) F1 mice were transplanted with C5 7BL/6 marrow and/or spleen cells and treated with daily sc injection o f 5 mug heparin for 30 days. We have shown that heparin in low doses a ttenuates the severity of acute GVHD and reduces the mortality rate fr om 69 to 37.5% without abrogating the GVL effect induced by the allogr aft and without impairing marrow engraftment.