After several months on a waiting list, a 44-year-old male received a liver transplant 5 days ago. In the last 36 hours, he has developed a rash beginning on his palms and soles, along with abdominal pain and nausea. It has been determined by his care team that the immune response that is causing his symptoms originates not with his own compromised immune components but with those introduced with his new organ. This man's most likely medical diagnosis is
A) graft versus host disease (GVHD).
B) acute transplant rejection.
C) hyperacute organ rejection.
D) T-cell-mediated graft rejection.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rash, gastrointestinal involvement, and pernicious activity by donor immune cells are the hallmarks of GVHD. The description does not suggest acute or hyperacute transplant rejection, and T-cell-mediated rejection is not a diagnosis in and of itself, but rather one of the mechanisms of transplant rejection.

After Several Months on a Waiting List, a 44-Year-Old Male