Probable Graft-Versus-Graft Reaction
1 Division of Oncology, The Fred Hutchinson, Cancer Research Center, 1124 Columbia St, Seattle, WA 98104
To the Editor.
The report by Lauer et al "Probable Graft-vs-Graft Reaction in an Infant after Exchange Transfusion and Marrow Transplantation" deserves comment. Proof of initial engraftment from the random blood donor depends on the HLA type of the donor. The HLA typing of the patient's lymphocytes rules out engraftment unless the donor was fortuitously HLA matched and this is conceivable as the HLA phenotype is a relatively common one. It is also suggested from other reports that some degree of donor-recipient compatibility is necessary for engraftment via blood transfusions.




