TA-GVHD is generally unresponsive to medical treatment. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been successful in rare instances.
Patients at risk include:
- Neonates less than four months old
- Patients with an acquired or congenital immunodeficiency
- Patients receiving a directed donation from a family member
TA-GVHD can be prevented if a method is used that is known to prevent the disease. Methods include either the use of a pathogen reduction technology or irradiation. An effective pathogen reduction technology is known to inactivate residual leukocytes and is cleared or approved by the FDA or Competent Authority. Irradiation prevents the proliferation of donor lymphocytes with a required dose of 25 Gy to the midplane of the blood container and a minimum of 15 Gy elsewhere. The dosage must not exceed 50 Gy to prevent harm to the patient from irradiation.
Irradiation of blood can result in a decreased survival of red cells and a leakage of potassium from intracellular stores. Because of this, Red Blood Cell units may only be stored for up to 28 days following irradiation. No reduction in storage time is required for platelets. Because Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) and Cryoprecipitate do not contain cells, neither of these methods is required.
