Which graft recipient scenario does not carry a risk for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)?

Which graft recipient scenario does not carry a risk for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)?

• A. Bone marrow transplants
• B. Lung transplants
• C. Liver transplants
• D. Irradiated leukocytes

Answer: (D)

Graft-versus-host disease happens when the donor’s immune cells, especially T lymphocytes in the graft, are viable and recognize the recipient’s tissues as foreign, mounting an attack. The more viable donor T cells present, the higher the GVHD risk. Bone marrow transplants bring a large load of donor T cells, so GVHD risk is high. Lung and liver transplants are solid organs with much fewer passenger lymphocytes, so GVHD is much rarer but can still occur in rare cases. When leukocytes are irradiated, their ability to proliferate and mount an immune response is destroyed, so they cannot cause GVHD. Therefore, irradiated leukocytes do not carry GVHD risk.

Graft-versus-host disease happens when the donor’s immune cells, especially T lymphocytes in the graft, are viable and recognize the recipient’s tissues as foreign, mounting an attack. The more viable donor T cells present, the higher the GVHD risk. Bone marrow transplants bring a large load of donor T cells, so GVHD risk is high. Lung and liver transplants are solid organs with much fewer passenger lymphocytes, so GVHD is much rarer but can still occur in rare cases. When leukocytes are irradiated, their ability to proliferate and mount an immune response is destroyed, so they cannot cause GVHD. Therefore, irradiated leukocytes do not carry GVHD risk.