Severe veno-occlusive disease after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma: report of a successfully managed case and a literature review of veno-occlusive disease

Clin Transplant. 2008 Nov-Dec;22(6):837-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2008.00882.x. Epub 2008 Aug 18.

Abstract

Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver is a severe complication of high-dose chemotherapy and allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplantation with potential fatal outcome. We report a case of severe VOD in a patient with a high-grade B-cell lymphoma. Liver-venule occlusion was confirmed by liver biopsy. Supportive care, fibrinolytic treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and defibrotide maintenance therapy led to complete resolution of VOD demonstrated at liver biopsy and with a follow-up of 44 months after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The literature on VOD has been reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease / drug therapy*
  • Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / therapy*
  • Male
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Polydeoxyribonucleotides / therapeutic use
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / therapeutic use
  • Transplantation, Autologous

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Polydeoxyribonucleotides
  • defibrotide
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator