title: Indications and results of chemotherapy in children with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease after liver transplantation.
abstract: Among 39 posttransplant lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLD) in a cohort of 450 pediatric liver transplant recipients, 3 had a malignant lymphoma, unresponsive to arrest of immunosuppression and to gancyclovir, interferon, and anti-interleukin 6 antibodies. Lymphoma appeared 20, 46, and 96 months posttransplantation and 16, 43, and 90 months after primary Epstein-Barr virus infection. In one case, the patient had histological progression from plasmacytic hyperplasia PTLD, concomitant with symptomatic primary infection, to Burkitt-like lymphoma 43 months later. These three patients received five courses of chemotherapy, after a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone regimen for Burkitt-like or LH 89 scheme for Hodgkin-like PTLDs. Chemotherapy was well tolerated, and all three were free of disease and without immunosuppression 19, 14, and 4 months after chemotherapy. In Burkitt-like or Hodgkin-like PTLDs, immunomodulatory or antiviral drugs were inefficient. Chemotherapy is indicated and can be safely and successfully used. Long-term arrest of immunosuppression seems feasible without graft rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. Sokal@Pedi.ucl.ac.be
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smets
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vajro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cornu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reding
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Otte
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sokal
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone