[Graft versus host disease, a little known complication of blood transfusion].

A case of fatal graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) following blood transfusions is reported. This relatively rare complication of blood and bloodcomponent replacement therapy may occur in recipients with decreased cellular immunity, which may be due to the underlying disease, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or a combination of both. GvHD is a result of active proliferation of transfused immunologically competent cells which attack host organs. This complication can be prevented by irradiating transfusions with 1500 rads in vitro.