GVHD incidence holds steady at 1% in U.S. liver transplant recipients

The incidence rate of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) within 1 year after liver transplantation in the United States is approximately 1.0%, and this rate remained stable from 2010 to 2020, according to a study.

The study identified 2 significant predictors: alcohol-associated liver disease was associated with a lower risk of GVHD, while a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 on the index admission was associated with a higher risk.

Of the 88,433 liver transplantations included in this retrospective cohort study, 383 cases of GVHD emerged within the first year post-LT, yielding an incidence rate of 1.0% (95% CI: 0.8%-1.3%).

There was no statistically significant fluctuation in the incidence of GVHD over the decade-long period. There was a lower risk of GVHD associated with alcohol-associated liver disease. Conversely, a heightened risk was linked to a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 on the index admission.

Reference
Huang Y, Wang Y, Chase RC, Yang L. Incidence and risk factors of graft-versus-host disease after liver transplantation: A national study 2010-2020. Hepatol Commun. 2023;7(10):e0271. doi: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000271. PMID: 37756119.