T. Murakami et al., OKT3 THERAPY FOR TRANSFUSION-ASSOCIATED GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE IN A NEONATE, Acta Paediatrica Japonica Overseas Edition, 39(4), 1997, pp. 462-465
Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a fatal
side effect of blood transfusion. The present study describes a case o
f TA-GVHD in a neonate treated with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (OKT3
). The patient died of systemic bacterial infection. However, it is su
ggested that OKT3 suppressed the graft-versus-host reaction due to the
improvement in the clinical signs and a change in the human leucocyte
antigen (HLA) type on the surface of circulating lymphocytes. A relat
ively large dose of OKT3 together with steroid pulse therapy and cyclo
sporin A may be required for the control of TA-GVHD in neonates.