Hodgkin's disease following solid organ transplantation.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of second malignancies is markedly increased following transplantation of solid organs. However, the development of Hodgkin's disease has been described relatively infrequently in this setting, and there is little clinical information on these patients and few details on management.


METHODS
We have reviewed the pathologic specimens and clinical history of four patients who developed Hodgkin's disease following transplantation of solid organs.


RESULTS
Hodgkin's disease appeared 26-68 months following transplantation of the kidney (2 cases), liver, and heart. Three cases demonstrated evidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in Reed-Sternberg cells. One case appears to have arisen after a previous EBV-driven polymorphous lymphoproliferation. Hodgkin's disease was localized in three cases and disseminated in one. All patients achieved remission with standard therapy and continue in remission between 9 and 61 months after therapy. Graft function was preserved in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Hodgkin's disease occurring in the post-transplantation period should probably be treated like Hodgkin's disease in non-immunosuppressed patients. Prolonged disease-free survival is possible and function of the transplanted organ can be preserved.
Bierman
P J
PJ
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA.
Vose
J M
JM
Langnas
A N
AN
Rifkin
R M
RM
Hauke
R J
RJ
Smir
B N
BN
Greiner
T C
TC
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors