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Transplant Proc 2018 Nov 15;50(9):2699-2704. Epub 2018 Mar 15.

Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Mie University School of Medicine, Mie, Japan.

Objective: In patients with living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), late-onset complications sometimes develop because of long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs. One of the immunosuppressive drug-related complications is de novo malignancies resulting in reduced survival.

Patients And Methods: Among 153 patients undergoing LDLT, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 97 adult recipients (February 2002 to May 2017), who had been followed-up at our hospital for more than one year after LDLT. Read More

Cornea 2018 Dec;37(12):1593-1595

Department of Pathology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

Purpose: To report a patient who developed unilateral corneal stromal infiltration while undergoing systemic chemotherapy for multinodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified.

Methods: Clinical, imaging, and immunohistopathological features of a 40-year-old woman who presented with a stromal haze in the right cornea were reviewed.

Results: At initial presentation, her visual acuity in the right eye was 20/40. Read More

Am J Transplant 2018 Mar 10;18(3):537-549. Epub 2018 Jan 10.

Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.

A higher risk for a variety of cancers is among the major complications of posttransplantation immunosuppression. In this part of a continuing series on cancers posttransplantation, this review focuses on the hematologic cancers after solid organ transplantation. Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs), which comprise the great majority of hematologic cancers, represent a spectrum of conditions that include, but are not limited to, the Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Read More

Support Care Cancer 2018 02 17;26(2):657-665. Epub 2017 Sep 17.

Integrative Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1429 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA.

Purpose: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is potentially curative for a number of hematologic malignancies, but is associated with high symptom burden. We conducted a randomized sham-controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate efficacy and safety of acupuncture as an integrative treatment for managing common symptoms during HCT.

Methods: Adult patients with multiple myeloma undergoing high-dose melphalan followed by autologous HCT (AHCT) were randomized to receive either true or sham acupuncture once daily for 5 days starting the day after chemotherapy. Read More

Transplant Proc 2017 Sep;49(7):1639-1643

Department of Pathology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) encompass a spectrum of heterogeneous entities ranging from benign lymphocytic proliferations to high-grade malignant lymphomas. The majority of PTLDs are associated with reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which induces B-cell proliferation and occurs in the setting of severe immune suppression after solid organ or bone marrow transplantation. T-cell/natural killer cell PTLDs are relatively rare, constituting ∼15% of all cases. Read More

Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2017 May-Jun;28(3):579-588

Department of Nephrology, The Urology-Nephrology Center, Mansoura, Egypt.

The newer and potent immunosuppressive agents have successfully reduced the risk of rejection after kidney transplantation, but the development of cardiovascular diseases, infections, and malignancy is major factors limiting their success. Posttransplantation malignancy is the second most common cause of death in renal transplant recipients after cardiovascular disease; it is expected that mortality due to malignancy may become the most common cause of death within the next two decades. This study is designed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and types of malignancies occurring after renal transplantation and their impact on patient and graft survival. Read More

Am J Kidney Dis 2017 May 23;69(5):587-594. Epub 2016 Nov 23.

Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.

Background: In a phase 2 study, kidney transplant recipients of low immunologic risk who switched from a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) to belatacept had improved kidney function at 12 months postconversion versus those continuing CNI therapy, with a low rate of acute rejection and no transplant loss.

Study Design: 36-month follow-up of the intention-to-treat population.

Setting & Participants: CNI-treated adult kidney transplant recipients with stable transplant function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], 35-75mL/min/1. Read More

Clin Cancer Res 2017 Apr 23;23(7):1623-1626. Epub 2016 Nov 23.

Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Despite an extensive immune infiltrate that is recruited to the tumor by malignant Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin lymphoma, the antitumor immune response is ineffective and unable to eradicate the malignant cells. The ineffective immune response is in part due to PD-1 signaling that renders intratumoral immune cells anergic. Reed-Sternberg cells have been shown to upregulate expression of the PD-1 ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, due to either genetic alterations at chromosome 9p24. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2017 ;1532:255-265

The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is a human gamma herpes virus that establishes latency in B cells after primary infection. EBV generally only causes a mild, self-limiting viral illness but is also associated with several malignancies including posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder in the immunosuppressed host as well as Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the immune competent host. The expression of EBV antigens by lymphoma has important applications as targets for adoptive T cell therapy. Read More

Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2016 12 17;16(12):684-692.e3. Epub 2016 Sep 17.

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts Cancer Center, Boston, MA; Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA.

Background: Multiple myeloma/plasmacytoma-like posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD-MM) is a rare complication of solid organ transplantation. Case series have shown variable outcomes, and survival data in the modern era are lacking.

Patients And Methods: A cohort of 212 PTLD-MM patients was identified in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients between 1999 and 2011. Read More

Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2016 12 29;16(12):672-678. Epub 2016 Aug 29.

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI. Electronic address:

Background: For patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) is commonly used. After auto-HCT, DLBCL patients are often monitored with surveillance imaging. However, there is little evidence to support this practice. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2016 Jun 15;22(6). Epub 2016 Jun 15.

University of Missouri School of Medicine.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a rare complication of solid organ or allogenic bone marrow transplantation. Cases localized to the skin are even rarer, with only around 100 cases recorded in the literature [2]. We present a case of 60 year-old-woman, a lung transplant recipient, who presented with an asymptomatic violaceous nodule on her left medial calf. Read More

Transplant Proc 2016 Jul-Aug;48(6):1927-33

Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Hôpital Lapeyronie, University of Montpellier Medical School, Montpellier, France.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) after solid organ transplantation may carry a poorer prognosis than lymphoma in immunocompetent individuals, but comparative data are lacking. In a retrospective, single-center, case-control study, 21 cases of PTLD were identified in patients undergoing kidney transplantation since 2000, and compared to 42 nontransplanted controls cared for in the same institution and matched for age, prognostic index, and cerebral localization. Two-year and 5-year overall survival was 57% and 44%, respectively, in PTLD patients and 71% and 58% in controls (log-rank test P = . Read More

Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2016 08 10;16(8):429-33. Epub 2016 May 10.

Department of Pathology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.

Background: US Food and Drug Administration approval of brentuximab vedotin for treatment of CD30-positive relapsed/refractory lymphomas, including classical Hodgkin lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, initiated significant interest in researching CD30 expression in other therapy-resistant or relapsed lymphomas. We evaluated CD30 expression in 116 cases of aggressive B-cell lymphomas diagnosed at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center between 2000 and 2012 with the purpose of assessing the benefit of treatment with brentuximab. Read More

Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2016 07 5;16(7):411-6. Epub 2016 May 5.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Bloodworks, Seattle, WA.

Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation remains important in the treatment of myeloma and relapsed lymphoma. Plerixafor has been shown to significantly enhance stem cell mobilization but is very expensive.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated plerixafor use in the 3-year period after its approval in December 2008. Read More

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2016 06 27;37(3):406-20. Epub 2016 May 27.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Benign pulmonary lymphoid disorders include a variety of rare lymphoid abnormalities characterized by a polyclonal lymphoid infiltrate with differing histopathologic patterns and clinicoradiologic features that may overlap. Histological examination is essential to reach a correct diagnosis and to exclude alternative causes, although this task can at times prove difficult. Further studies and clinical trials are needed to provide additional insights on pathogenesis and to guide the therapeutic management of these disorders. Read More

Am J Kidney Dis 2016 Sep 11;68(3):469-72. Epub 2016 May 11.

Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima, Japan.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is associated with significant mortality in kidney transplant recipients. PTLD cases associated with poor prognostic factors that are refractory to reduction of immunosuppression generally require chemotherapy and immunotherapy. We present a patient with PTLD who achieved complete remission after reduction of immunosuppression alone despite having a poor prognosis. Read More

Transplant Proc 2016 Mar;48(2):479-84

Transplant Infectious Diseases Program, Department of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Transplant Surgery Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. Electronic address:

Background: Severe hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) (IgG <400 mg/dL) following intestinal transplantation is common. Although IgG replacement therapy is commonly used, clinical outcomes associated with increasing IgG levels to >400 mg/dL are not well described.

Methods: Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to estimate survival, the log-rank test to compare survival distributions between groups, and the Fisher exact test to determine the association between HGG and rejection. Read More

Am J Transplant 2016 Feb 18;16(2):379-80. Epub 2016 Jan 18.

Division of Hematology and Oncology and Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.

Blood 2016 Apr 7;127(16):2007-17. Epub 2016 Jan 7.

Department of Pathology, Medical Microbiology, and.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous virus that establishes a latent infection within the host and in some cases can lead to the development of EBV-associated lymphomas, lymphoproliferative disorders, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, solid tumors, and other diseases. We studied the clinical significance of detecting EBV DNA in the plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 2146 patients who had blood specimens sent to the Johns Hopkins Hospital clinical laboratory for viral quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay over a 5-year period. Within this largely immunocompromised and hospitalized cohort, 535 patients (25%) had EBV detected in plasma or PBMCs. Read More

Transfusion 2016 Jan 11;56(1):164-9. Epub 2015 Aug 11.

Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston.

Background: Cellular engraftment after allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT) can be affected by pre-HPCT antibodies against donor human leukocyte antigen (HLA; donor-specific antibodies [DSAs]), which are commonly acquired by either pregnancy or transfusion. Issues regarding high assay sensitivity and variable interpretation limit routine screening for DSAs. Platelet (PLT) transfusion refractoriness (PTR) is relatively common in patients with hematologic malignancies, and anti-HLA alloantibodies can be identified in up to 20% of cases. Read More

Chin Med J (Engl) 2015 Aug;128(15):2065-71

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300020, China.

Background: The postremission therapies for adult patients generally contain consolidation chemotherapy, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). Because of the various results from different centers, the optimal therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients is still uncertain. This study aimed to better understand predictive factors and role of auto-HSCT in the postremission therapy for adult ALL patients. Read More

J Hematol Oncol 2015 Jul 26;8:90. Epub 2015 Jul 26.

Department of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Xinqiao Street, Shangpinba District, Chongqing, 400037, China.

Background: Since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) into combination chemotherapy regimens, the majority of newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) patients have achieved complete remission (CR). However, without allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), long-term outcomes in adults remain unsatisfactory. Indeed, haploidentical HSCT has become a common treatment for adult patients who lack an HLA-matched donor, though limited data are available on the efficacy of haploidentical HSCT in Ph+ ALL patients. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2015 Oct;40(10):832-4

From the *Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China; and †Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.

The most commonly observed symptoms of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) after a liver transplantation were diarrhea and fever. Although PTLD can involve bones, bone pain is a rare manifestation of PTLD, much less to say a sole presentation. We report a case of a pediatric patient with recurrent PTLD after liver transplantation, whose only complaint was right tibial pain. Read More

Radiology 2015 Nov 2;277(2):518-26. Epub 2015 Jun 2.

From the Departments of Radiology (G.A.U., J.L., H.S.), Epidemiology and Biostatistics (D.A.G., M.G.), and Medicine (C.S.S., J.M., C.H.M., A.D.Z.), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065; and Departments of Radiology (G.A.U., H.S.) and Medicine (C.S.S., C.H.M., A.D.Z.), Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.

Purpose: To determine the prognostic value of performing fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) before allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) in patients with aggressive lymphoma.

Materials And Methods: A HIPAA-compliant retrospective review was performed under institutional review board waiver. Patients with aggressive lymphoma underwent allogeneic or autologous SCT between January 2005 and December 2010. Read More

Am J Transplant 2015 Oct 18;15(10):2665-73. Epub 2015 May 18.

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

We examined the associations of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status with characteristics and outcomes of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) by studying 176 adult solid organ transplant recipients diagnosed with PTLD between 1990 and 2013 (58 [33%] EBV-negative; 118 [67%] EBV-positive). The proportion of EBV-negative cases increased over time from 10% (1990-1995) to 48% (2008-2013) (p < 0.001). Read More

Intern Med J 2015 May;45(5):583-6

Haematology Department, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Primary central nervous system posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PCNS-PTLD) is uncommon, especially after heart or lung transplantation. Database analysis from a single heart and lung transplantation centre and a literature review pertaining to PCNS-PTLD was performed. In this study, the prevalence of PCNS-PTLD was 0. Read More

Am J Transplant 2015 Jul 13;15(7):1976-81. Epub 2015 Apr 13.

Service des Maladies du Sang, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are life-threatening complications after solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Only half of CD20-positive PTLDs respond to rituximab monotherapy, and outcomes remain poor for patients with relapsed/refractory disease, especially those who do not qualify for an anthracycline containing regimen due to frailty or comorbidities. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) might be an option in this particular setting. Read More

Int Surg 2015 Feb;100(2):358-64

Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a relatively rare and life-threatening complication after organ transplantation. From 1999 to 2012, 45 adult patients underwent heart transplantation at our hospital. Two of the patients developed PTLD after transplantation and required emergency surgery due to intestinal perforation. Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2015 Jul 14;44(7):1021-6. Epub 2015 Feb 14.

Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2026, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA,

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a known complication of organ transplantation, but musculoskeletal involvement of PTLD remains very rare. We present a case of recurrent PTLD of the bone in a heart transplant patient that was misdiagnosed as gout for several years. There are only a few cases of osseous PTLD in the literature, and we hope to better characterize its imaging findings on multiple imaging modalities. Read More

Radiographics 2014 Nov-Dec;34(7):2025-38

From the Abdominal Imaging Division, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton Rd NE, Suite AT-627, Atlanta, GA 30322 (J.C.C., C.C.M., P.A.H., W.E.T., P.K.M.); and Abdominal Imaging Division, Department of Imaging, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá University Hospital, Bogotá, Colombia (D.A.A.).

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is the second most common tumor in adult transplant recipients. Most cases of PTLD are attributed to Epstein-Barr virus. Decreased levels of immunosurveillance against this tumor virus as a result of immunosuppressive regimens are thought to account for most cases of PTLD. Read More

Transplant Proc 2014 Oct;46(8):2877-81

Medical University of Warsaw, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Diseases, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address:

Background: Systemic immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis (AL) is a plasma cell dyscrasia resulting in multisystem organ failure and death. Autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) has been widely used to treat patients with AL. However, treatment-related mortality remains high and reported series are subject to selection bias. Read More

Blood 2014 Dec 30;124(26):3914-23. Epub 2014 Oct 30.

University Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Eberhard Karls University, Tuebingen, Germany; University Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Basel, Switzerland.

Therapeutic natural killer (NK)-cell-mediated alloreactivity toward acute myeloid leukemia has largely been attributed to mismatches between killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) on NK cells and their ligands, HLA class I molecules, on target cells. While adult acute B-cell precursor leukemia (BCP-ALL) appears to be resistant to NK-cell-mediated lysis, recent data indicate that pediatric BCP-ALL might yet be a target of NK cells. In this study, we demonstrate in a donor-patient-specific NOD. Read More

Blood 2014 Dec 14;124(25):3817-27. Epub 2014 Oct 14.

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

High-dose, posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) reduces severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation (alloBMT), but the impact of PTCy on long-term, disease-specific outcomes is unclear. We conducted a retrospective study of 209 consecutive adult patients transplanted for acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n = 138), myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 28), or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 43) using PTCy as sole GVHD prophylaxis after myeloablative conditioning and HLA-matched-related or -unrelated T-cell-replete allografting. At alloBMT, 30% of patients were not in morphologic complete remission. Read More

Transplantation 2015 Jan;99(1):114-9

1 Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.

Background: Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in infants after liver transplantation is strongly associated with tacrolimus (Tac) administration and primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transmission.

Methods: From 1991 to 2012, 32 survivors younger than 2 years who had undergone living-donor liver transplantation using Tac for primary immunosuppression were retrospectively investigated for changes in Tac trough levels before and at the onset of posttransplantation viral infection episodes.

Results: Twenty-one recipients experienced 33 viral infection episodes associated with EBV-related PTLD (n = 5), symptomatic EBV infection without development of PTLD (n = 8), and other viral infections (n = 20). Read More

Am J Transplant 2014 Jul 9;14(7):1619-29. Epub 2014 May 9.

Department of Renal Medicine, Central Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNAemia in the first year posttransplantation has been studied extensively. There is a paucity of information on prevalence and sequelae of EBV infection in adult renal transplantation beyond the first year. This single-center study examines the relationship between EBV DNAemia and demographic, immunosuppressive, hematologic and infection-related parameters in 499 renal transplant recipients between 1 month and 33 years posttransplant. Read More

Am J Transplant 2014 May 26;14(5):1207-13. Epub 2014 Mar 26.

School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD, Australia; Molecular Basis of Disease Research Program, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD, Australia; Population & Social Health Research Program (Population Oral Health) Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD, Australia.

We describe the case of a 59-year-old HIV-negative male who developed multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) 1 year postliver transplantation due to recrudescence of a pretransplant human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection. He presented with fevers, dry cough, weight loss and drenching night sweats. Routine investigations were all unremarkable. Read More

Am J Transplant 2014 Apr 19;14(4):857-66. Epub 2014 Feb 19.

Clinical Hematology Unit, CHU La Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Paris, France.

Up to 35% of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) cases occur within 1 year of transplantation, and over 50% are associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV primary infection and reactivation are PTLD predictive factors, but there is no consensus for their treatment. We conducted a prospective single-center study on 299 consecutive heart-transplant patients treated with the same immunosuppressive regimen and monitored by repetitive EBV viral-load measurements and endomyocardial biopsies to detect graft rejection. Read More

Hematol Oncol 2014 Dec 29;32(4):205-11. Epub 2014 Jan 29.

Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Complete response (CR) predicts superior survivals in myeloma. To define the impact of duration of CR posttransplantation on survivals, 71 myeloma patients, who underwent an intended early (a staged approach) or frontline use of bortezomib-based induction, followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) were studied. Achievement of CR was assessed every 4-weekly until maximal response after ASCT and then 6-weekly thereafter. Read More

Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2013 Dec;34(6):535-49

Department of Pathology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

Lymphoproliferative pulmonary neoplasms can occur as primary pulmonary lymphomas or because of secondary pulmonary involvement. Neoplastic disorders may be difficult to differentiate from reactive pulmonary lymphoproliferative disorders, and immunohistochemical evaluation is often required to differentiate the 2 types of lesions. Neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders are monoclonal lesions. Read More

Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2013 ;2013:95-102

1Department of Internal Medicine II: Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany; and.

This review summarizes the available evidence and outlines our approach to the prophylaxis and management of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in adult solid organ transplantation recipients. We attempt to reduce immunosuppression as tolerated in every patient with suspected PTLD in close cooperation with their transplantation physician. There is no evidence to guide the decision when to initiate further treatment; we usually wait no longer than 4 weeks and always initiate further therapy unless there is a complete or at least good partial remission. Read More

Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 2013 15;78:259-63. Epub 2013 Nov 15.

Immune Regulation and Cancer, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a γ herpes virus endemic in humans and transforming human B lymphocytes. It causes a variety of human pathologies ranging from infectious mononucleosis upon acute infection to EBV-driven B-cell lymphomas. In humans, EBV-infected cells are under powerful immune surveillance by T and NK cells. Read More

Transfusion 2014 May 30;54(5):1243-50. Epub 2013 Sep 30.

Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

Background: Plerixafor is used in combination with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor to enhance the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells. Limited data are available in regard to effects of plerixafor on posttransplant outcomes in chemomobilized patients who appear to mobilize poorly.

Study Design And Methods: Eighty-nine chemomobilized patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were included in this retrospective study. Read More

Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2013 Oct;18(5):549-54

aDepartment of Paediatrics, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi bDepartment of Paediatric Nephrology, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Purpose Of Review: To summarize the association between posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), which is the most frequent cause of posttransplantation tumors in children, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection.

Recent Findings: Most PTLD cases present as proliferation of EBV-infected B cells, because EBV-naive patients have no EBV-specific cytotoxic lymphocytes to control the infected cells. The monitoring of EBV loads in whole blood, as well as in plasma by PCR, represents a useful method for early diagnosis and timely treatment. Read More

Transplant Proc 2013 Jul-Aug;45(6):2384-6

Division of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Background: Cardiac sarcoidosis with end-stage heart failure has a poor prognosis without transplantation. The rates of sarcoid recurrence and rejection are not well established after heart transplantation.

Methods: A total of 19 heart transplant recipients with sarcoid of the explanted heart were compared with a contemporaneous control group of 1,050 heart transplant recipients without cardiac sarcoidosis. Read More

Am J Transplant 2013 Oct 6;13(10):2601-10. Epub 2013 Aug 6.

Infectious Diseases Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE; Transplant Surgery Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.

Hypogammaglobulinemia has been described after solid organ transplantation and has been associated with increased risk of infections. The aim of the study was to evaluate the rate of severe hypogammaglobulinemia and its relationship with the risk of infections during the first year posttransplantation. Eighteen studies (1756 patients) that evaluated hypogammaglobulinemia and posttransplant infections were included. Read More

Transplantation 2013 Aug;96(3):e16-8

Transplantation 2013 Oct;96(7):657-63

1 Institute of Hematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel. 2 Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. 3 Pulmonary Institute, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel. 4 Institute of Pathology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel. 5 Address correspondence to: Eli Muchtar, M.D., Institute of Hematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel 49100.

Background: Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a well-recognized complication after solid-organ transplantation. Historically, most cases of PTLD among lung transplant recipients occurred within the first year from transplantation and were associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. However, there are increasing reports on a late-onset form of PTLD. Read More

Klin Onkol 2013 ;26(3):186-90

Oddelenie Klinickej Patofyziológie Klinika Hematológie a Transfuziológie LF UK a UN Bratislava.

Maintenance therapy was recently defined as any treatment administered after the completion of induction therapy in patients whose disease is either responsive or nonprogressive at the time, with the goal of prolonging survival. Several studies have evaluated the use of novel agents as part of posttransplantation maintenance to improve progression free survival and overall survival. As shown by recent clinical trials, thalidomide and bortezomib are more indicated as consolidation agents, increasing the response rates. Read More