Epstein-Barr virus-associated T-cell lymphoma in solid organ transplant recipients.
Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLDs) are a heterogenous group of lymphoid proliferative disorders occurring in transplant patients. Most PTLDs are B-cell in origin; T-cell PTLDs are seldom reported, and EBV-associated T-cell PTLDs are rare. The first case of a T-cell, non-EBV-associated PTLD was first described in a renal allograft recipient in 1987. A total of 40 cases of T-cell PTLDs in solid organ transplant recipients have been reported. However, so far only 16 cases of EBV-associated T-cell PTLDs have been reported in the literature. The sites of occurrence of EBV-associated T-cell PTLDs were in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, bone marrow, skin, liver and spleen. The pathogenesis of EBV-associated T-cell PTLD is uncertain; it is speculated that the EBV may infect a subset of T-cells that express the CD21 receptor. The present treatment of EBV-associated T-cell PTLD consists of surgical removal, reduction or withdrawal of immunosuppression and/or radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The prognosis is uncertain, and the 1-year survival for patients who were followed up for 1 year was 50%.
Sivaraman
P
P
Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Lye
W C
WC
D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000209:etiology*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D016377:Organ Transplantation