GvHD after umbilical cord blood transplantation for acute leukemia: an analysis of risk factors and effect on outcomes

Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) registry, we analyzed 1404 umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) patients (single (<18 years)=810, double (⩾18 years)=594) with acute leukemia to define the incidence of acute GvHD (aGvHD) and chronic GvHD (cGvHD), analyze clinical risk factors and investigate outcomes. After single UCBT, 100-day incidence of grade II–IV aGvHD was 39% (95% confidence interval (CI), 36–43%), grade III–IV aGvHD was 18% (95% CI, 15–20%) and 1-year cGvHD was 27% (95% CI, 24–30%). After double UCBT, 100-day incidence of grade II–IV aGvHD was 45% (95% CI, 41–49%), grade III–IV aGvHD was 22% (95% CI, 19–26%) and 1-year cGvHD was 26% (95% CI, 22–29%). For single UCBT, multivariate analysis showed that absence of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) was associated with aGvHD, whereas prior aGvHD was associated with cGvHD. For double UCBT, absence of ATG and myeloablative conditioning were associated with aGvHD, whereas prior aGvHD predicted for cGvHD. Grade III–IV aGvHD led to worse survival, whereas cGvHD had no significant effect on disease-free or overall survival. GvHD is prevalent after UCBT with severe aGvHD leading to higher mortality. Future research in UCBT should prioritize prevention of GvHD.