title: Rituximab in association with rapamycin for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease treatment.
abstract: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of solid-organ and blood stem-cell transplants. It responds poorly to therapy, including reduction of immunosuppression, interferon, antivirals or chemotherapy. Small series of PTLD successfully treated with rituximab have been reported, and experimental studies suggest that rapamycin inhibits growth of human Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphocytes. We report two cases of PTLD after renal transplantation that were successfully treated with rituximab in association with rapamycin. This report suggests that rituximab associated with rapamycin could be an effective and safe treatment for PTLD.
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa Hospital, Rua Correa Lima 1493, 90850 Porto Alegre, Brazil. cdgarcia@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Valter Duro
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: José Luz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bonamigo Filho
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fogliatto
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.forename: Clotilde Druck
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Vivianne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Elizete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keitel
authors.forename: Antonio Eduardo
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bittar
authors.forename: Auri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrera des Santos
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roithmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D000069283:Rituximab; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D020123:Sirolimus