Abstract:

Objective To investigate the etiology，diagnosis and treatment of graft-versus-host diseaseafter liver transplantation. Methods Progression，histology，diagnosis and treatment of one suspected case of GVHD after liver transplantation were analyzed and correlative literatures were reviewed. Results The patient suffered fever，epilepsy，rashes and hematopoietic stagnation 2 weeks after liver transplantation and had no response to anti-infection therapy. Considering of clinical symptoms together with the histological appearance of skin lesions，blood and bone marrow cytology tests，and T-cell subsets，GVHD was suspected. Immunosuppressants were discontinued and high-dose steroid therapy with 1 000 mg/day intravenous methylprednisolone was administered. Skin rashes faded，but the general condition deteriorated and the patient died of multiple organ failure 3 weeks afterliver transplantation Conclusion GVHD is a rare and life threatening complication after liver transplantation withmortality ＞ 75%. There is no standard diagnosis criterion. We summarize this suspected case and review literatures about GVHD after liver transplantation in order to increase awareness of the disease.