Influence of the length of the small bowel graft on the severity of graft versus host disease

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Abstract
The influence of the length and origin of a small bowel graft on graft versus host disease (GVHD) was studied in 33 (Lewis × brown Norway) F1 hybrids transplanted with different types of Lewis small bowel grafts. Recipients of an entire small bowel graft (N = 9), a jejunal graft (N = 6), or an ileal graft (N = 6) displayed a similar acute lethal GVHD, with 100% mortality rate and equivalent survival time (15 ± 0.7, 16.8 ± 0.9, and 16 ± 0.6 days, respectively) (P> 0.01). On the other hand, 80% of the recipients of a segmental jejunal graft (N = 10) recovered from a transitory form of GVHD and regained weight similarly to the isografted rats (N = 4). It was concluded that the entire small bowel, jejunum, and ileum can provoke an equivalent GVHD after transplantation, whereas a segment of jejunum decreases the intensity of GVHD, probably by reducing the amount of transplanted lymphoid tissue.