肝移植术后淋巴组织增生性疾病的临床病理分析

目的探讨肝移植术后淋巴组织增生性疾病（PTLD）的临床病理特征。方法对3例肝移植术后PTLD行HE、免疫组织化学染色及TCR、IgH基因重排检测,同时复习其临床资料并随访。结果3例中,2例位于肝门部,1例位于肝动脉旁淋巴结。临床表现为发热和梗阻性黄疸。病理诊断例1为单形性T细胞PTLD的周围T细胞淋巴瘤,例2、例3为单形性B细胞PTLD的淋巴浆细胞样淋巴瘤和弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤。基因重排检测例1 TCR阳性,例2、例3 IgH阳性。3例EBV免疫组化染色均阳性。行再次移植降低免疫抑制剂用量并配合抗病毒、抗CD20单抗和化疗等治疗,例1、例3分别于术后6个月和4个月死于淋巴瘤复发和肺感染,例2随访11个月无瘤生存。结论PTLD是肝移植术后严重的并发症之一,具有独特的形态和临床特征。病因可能与EB病毒感染和免疫抑制有关,需经病理组织学检查确诊。     

器官移植受体发生 EBV阳性的皮肤黏膜溃疡：一种局限性惰性移植后淋巴组织增殖性疾病

Epstein-Barr 病毒( EBV )阳性的皮肤黏膜溃疡( EBV MCU)是在老人或医源性免疫受损患者中发生的一种B细胞淋巴组织增殖性疾病,尚未见发生于实体器官移植受者的报道。作者在70例EBV阳性移植后淋巴组织增殖性疾病( PTLD)患者中发现7例EBV阳性MCU。包括5例肾脏、1例心脏和1例肺脏移植,其中男性5例。患者中位年龄61岁,4例发生于口腔黏膜,3例发生于胃肠道。溃疡病变发生前患者接受免疫抑制治疗0．6~13年。溃疡由炎症细胞和多形性或单形性大细胞增生,破坏皮肤黏膜而形成。5例中可见Reed-Sternberg样细胞。所有病例CD20、CD30阳性,原位杂交EBER结果阳性。3例近期患者被诊断为EBV阳性MCU,4例患者前期被诊断为单形性大细胞PTLD(n=3)和多形性 PTLD ( n =1)。所有患者血液 EBV DNA 均阴性(<1000拷贝数/ml),而在诊断或随访的44例移植患者中有35例发生系统性 PTLD ( P <0．001)。所有 EBV 阳性MCU患者通过减少免疫抑制剂用量(7/7),调整免疫抑制剂用量(2/7),和联用利妥昔单抗(3/7)等使皮损得到治愈。目前5例存活：其中4例身体健康,1例在等待肾移植手术;另2例分别在EBV阳性MCU治愈后的3年和5年死亡。未发现EBV阳性MCU复发或其他PTLD。     

移植后淋巴组织增生性疾病

移植后淋巴组织增生性疾病（post—transplant lymphoproliferative disorder，PTLD）是发生于实质器官和干细胞移植受体的一组疾病，常发生于移植后1年内，但也可发生于移植后的5～10年。PTLD的特点是组织形态多样，常伴坏死，B细胞表型为主，累及淋巴结外及EBV感染。PTLD发病机制明显不同于发生于普通人群的淋巴瘤。PTLD在长期免疫抑制及EBV感染的情况下发生，可继发多种基因变异，基因变异对PTLD向淋巴瘤转化起重要作用。     

FISH检测性染色体在鉴别急性淋巴细胞白血病异基因造血干细胞移植后髓外复发与淋巴细胞增殖性疾病中的临床应用

目的 探讨荧光原位杂交(fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH)在鉴别急性淋巴细胞白血病(acute lymphocytic leukemia,ALL)异基因造血干细胞移植(allogeneic hernatopoietic stem celltransplantation,allo-HSCT)后髓外复发与移植后淋巴细胞增殖性疾病(post-transplant lymphoproliferativedisease,PTLD)的可行性.方法 对6例ALL接受性别不同供者HSCT后出现淋巴结肿大或局部包块的患者,用FISH检测患者骨髓或肿瘤组织中性染色体嵌合状态和原位杂交检测肿瘤细胞内EB病毒RNA(Epstein-Barr virus,EBV-RNA).结果 6例患者骨髓细胞性染色体均示100%供者型.肿瘤组织中性染色体嵌合状态:3例受者型分别为100%、100%、98.0%,诊断白血病髓外复发;3例供者型分别为98.5%、96.0%,91.5%,诊断为PTLD.2例供者型患者EBV-RNA和EBV潜伏膜蛋白-1(latent membraneprotein,LMP-1)均阳性,其他患者阴性.经治疗3例髓外复发与3例PTLD患者分别有1例部分缓解,1例完全缓解,另4例患者治疗无效死亡.结论 接受性别不同供者HSCT后出现髓外复发或PTLD的ALlL患者,通过FISH检测患者肿瘤组织中性染色体嵌合状态是鉴别髓外复发与PTLD的十分有效手段.     

儿童种痘水疱病样淋巴组织增生性疾病临床病理分析

目的探讨儿童种痘水疱病样淋巴组织增生性疾病的临床病理学特征、诊断、鉴别诊断及预后。方法收集6例儿童种痘水疱病样淋巴组织增生性疾病,观察其临床表现、组织病理学、免疫表型及相关分子病理检测,收集随访资料并复习相关文献。结果男童4例,女童2例,病史1个月~4年。临床均表现为反复发作的水痘样疱疹并伴发热。镜下见表皮内有水疱形成或伴坏死,真皮层至皮下脂肪层内有数量多少不等的淋巴样细胞浸润,细胞可为轻至中度异型,多位于小血管及附属器周围。免疫组化示异型细胞可表达CD2、CD3、CD5、CD7、CD43、CD4、CD8、TIA-1,仅1例表达CD56,所有病例均不表达CD20、Pax-5。Ki-67增殖指数平均42.3%。5例EBER原位杂交检测呈阳性,2例TCR克隆性重排阳性。5例获得随访,1例患儿死亡。结论儿童种痘水疱病样淋巴组织增生性疾病临床较为少见,与慢性活动性EB病毒感染密切相关,临床过程可能为独立的疾病谱系,其性质可为良性、交界性及恶性。病理诊断需密切结合临床表现。     

种痘水疱病样淋巴组织增生性疾病11例临床病理分析

目的探讨种痘水疱病样淋巴组织增生性疾病(hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disease,HV-LPD)的临床病理学特点、诊断及鉴别诊断。方法收集11例HV-LPD的临床资料并进行形态学观察,应用免疫组化、EB病毒(Epstein-Barr virus,EBV)原位杂交检测和T细胞受体基因重排检测,并复习相关文献。结果 11例患者发病年龄2~50岁,临床表现为头面部和(或)躯干部位的肿胀、水疱、斑丘疹、结痂、瘢痕数月至数年,伴或不伴发热、肝脾及淋巴结肿大等症状。病理形态学示淋巴样细胞浸润真皮或至皮下组织,细胞小至中等大,轻至中度异型性,围绕皮肤附件浸润和嗜血管生长。11例病变细胞CD3、CD4均阳性,TIA-1(9/11)、CD8(8/11)、Granzyme B(6/11)、CD56(1/11)阳性,EBER均阳性。7例标本TCR克隆性重排检测阳性。11例患者临床治疗方案不同,包括抗病毒、抗感染、激素、免疫抑制剂、化疗,5例患者病情稳定,2例患者病情持续,1例死亡,3例失访。结论 HV-LPD是发生于儿童的EBV相关性T细胞淋巴组织增生性疾病,临床少见,亦可见于成人,其表现多样且独特,临床病史尤其以皮损特点是重要的诊断线索,结合病理形态、免疫表型、EBV原位杂交、T细胞受体基因重排可确诊。     

肺淋巴瘤样肉芽肿5例临床病理分析

目的探讨肺淋巴瘤样肉芽肿(pulmonary lymphomatiod granulomatosis,PLG)临床病理学特征。方法回顾性分析5例PLG的临床资料、组织学形态、免疫表型及分子生物学特点,并复习相关文献。结果 5例患者均为男性,年龄7~74岁,平均36.6岁;其中2例有发热病史;镜下均见中至大量异型淋巴样细胞弥漫浸润,其中3例可见大片凝固性坏死及显著的血管壁异型淋巴样细胞浸润伴纤维素样坏死;免疫表型:异型淋巴样细胞CD20、PAX-5、LMP1均阳性,EBER原位杂交检测显示数量不等的阳性,背景小淋巴细胞CD2、CD3、CD5阳性。依据反应性淋巴细胞背景中EB病毒阳性B细胞的比例,诊断PLG 3级2例,PLG 2级2例,PLG1~2级1例;术后随访时间6~16个月,平均9个月,均无复发和转移。结论 PLG是一种EB病毒相关的B细胞淋巴组织增殖性疾病,成年人居多,症状多样,肺部呈多发或单发病灶。诊断主要依靠病变中大量炎性细胞伴多少不等的中等大至大的异型B淋巴细胞且EB病毒阳性,以及嗜血管现象和灶片状坏死。同时应注意排除肺部炎性疾病和霍奇金淋巴瘤。     

肝脾T细胞淋巴瘤6例临床病理分析

目的 探讨肝脾T细胞淋巴瘤(hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma,HSTCL)的临床病理学特征、免疫表型、诊断及鉴别诊断。方法 收集6例HSTCL的临床病理资料,采用免疫组化EnVision法染色,应用EBER原位杂交法检测EB病毒的感染,并复习相关文献。结果 6例患者均表现为间歇性高热(3周～2个月)、脾肿大、三系下降;均无免疫抑制状态;3例肝肿大伴肝酶增高,4例伴胸腹腔内淋巴结轻度增大,脾脏平均最大径22 cm。镜下均为明显扩张充血的髓窦索,3例散在单个或小簇状分布、略多形性的中～大异型淋巴样细胞,3例为弥漫分布、较一致的中等大小淋巴样细胞,均可见组织细胞吞噬红细胞现象。1例累及脾门淋巴结,肿瘤浸润在淋巴窦内。免疫表型:6例CD3、CD56均阳性,5例CD4/CD8均阴性,3例Granzyme B、TIA-1、Perforin阳性,2例CD30阳性,Ki-67增殖指数为40%～80%。EBER原位杂交检测均阴性(5/5)。4例行骨髓活检,其中3例骨髓累及,2例间质浸润,1例血窦浸润。5例患者术后辅以化疗,4例于术后22天～33个月死亡。结论 HSTCL肿瘤分布于脾脏红髓,表达细胞毒标记和CD56,与EB病毒感染无相关性;诊断需结合临床表现、病理学特征、免疫表型和分子检测综合判断。     

EB病毒相关与不相关的肠道T细胞淋巴瘤临床病理研究

目的：探讨EB病毒相关与不相关的肠道T细胞淋巴瘤的临床病理特征、免疫分型和肿瘤细胞属性。方法：运用EBER1／2原位杂交检测EB病毒感染,采用免疫组化检测32例肠肠道原发T细胞淋巴瘤的免疫表型以及LMP－1、TIA－1、bcl-2和CD21的表达。结果：（1）27例（84．4％）为EB病毒相关淋巴瘤,其中11例（40．75）表达LMP－1。（2）32例瘤细胞均表达CD45RO,CD8＋。4例（12．5％）,CD4＋8例（25．0％）,CD56＋9例（28．1％）,17例（53．7％）为CD4－、CD8－、CD56－。TIA－1＋31例（96．9％）。无1例表达bcl2-,CD21。形态上28例为多形性中一大细胞性,单形性中等大细胞性和多形性各2例。临床上多见于青壮年男性,以腹痛、便血、发热、体重下降为主要症状,预后较差（中位生存期1．7月）。（3）EB病毒相关与相关者出现便血和发热以及CD3,CD8、CD56的表达方面差异有显著性。结论：在我国,绝大多数肠道T细胞淋巴瘤为EB病毒相关,具有特殊临床病理表现和免疫表型。其肿瘤细胞源自不同T细胞亚群（包括细胞毒性T细胞）或者NK细胞。     

肝脏原发黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区淋巴瘤及肝脏假性淋巴瘤的临床病理特征北大核心CSCD

目的 探讨肝脏原发黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区（MALT）淋巴瘤和肝脏假性淋巴瘤的临床病理特征、鉴别诊断.方法 收集2012年1月至2017年3月就诊于南京医科大学第一附属医院的3例肝脏原发MALT淋巴瘤和2例肝脏假性淋巴瘤患者资料,行HE和免疫组织化学EnVision法染色观察组织学形态,采用原位杂交法检测EB病毒编码小RNA,采用荧光原位杂交（FISH）技术检测MALT1基因,采用免疫球蛋白（Ig）基因重排检测技术分析克隆性基因重排情况,并复习相关文献.结果 3例MALT淋巴瘤,肿瘤结节状浸润汇管区,浸润及包绕周围肝组织并融合成结节或片状,多量小胆管陷入、散布其间伴淋巴上皮病变.瘤细胞围绕增生的淋巴滤泡,主要为中心细胞样和单核样B细胞,其中1例可见簇状上皮样组织细胞.瘤细胞CD20和PAX5阳性,不表达CD5、CD23、CD10、bcl-6及cyclin D1.2例肝脏假性淋巴瘤,病灶呈境界清楚的孤立性结节,其中1例可见部分纤维包膜.小胆管仅见于病灶周边,且缺乏淋巴上皮病变.淋巴组织增生以淋巴滤泡增生为主,缺乏明显异型性和单核样B细胞形态.免疫组织化学染色示增生的淋巴组织由B细胞和T细胞混合.Ig基因重排检测发现,3例肝脏原发MALT淋巴瘤呈单克隆性B细胞增生,而在2例假性淋巴瘤示多克隆性增生.FISH检测发现2例MALT淋巴瘤存在MALT1基因断裂.所有病例EBER原位杂交均为阴性.结论 肝脏原发MALT淋巴瘤和假性淋巴瘤均属肝脏罕见的淋巴组织增生性病变,两者具有重叠的组织学形态及免疫表型特征,互为首要鉴别诊断.综合分析组织形态、免疫表型和基因重排有助于区分两者.     

Lymphoproliferative disease after transplantation

Herein we describe 7 cases of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), 5 in men and 2 in women (aged from 25 to 62 years), occurring from 4 months to 12 years (mean, 7 years) after transplantation. Our patients were recipients of kidney, kidney and pancreas, heart, and autologous peripheral haematopoetic stem cells. Four cases were diagnosed as monomorphic and three as polymorphic type of PTLD according to the WHO classification. Monoclonal immunoglobuline heavy chain gene rearrangement was detected in two monomorphic lesions and one polymorphic lesion by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the two cases of polymorphic and the one case of monomorphic PTLD, the presence of EBV was visualised by immunohistochemical staining of some transformed lymphoid cells for latent membrane protein (LMP) of EBV. The presence of type A EBV was demonstrated by PCR. The patients were treated by reduction or discontinuation of immunosuppression and by chemotherapy. In 2 cases, a part of the organ affected by lymphoma (sigmoid colon and pancreas) was surgically resected. Four patients died of causes related to PTLD (2 to 15 months after the diagnosis), mainly of infectious complications. Two other patients who achieved remission died of unrelated causes. Only the youngest man is alive and in the complete remission 10 months after the diagnosis of PTLD.     

EBV-associated B- and T-cell posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders following primary EBV infection in a kidney transplant recipient

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) usually are of B-cell lineage and associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). PTLDs of T-cell lineage are much less common and infrequently associated with EBV. We report a rare case of a girl in whom B-cell and T-cell PTLDs developed following 2 EBV-negative kidney transplants. Within 2 years of the second transplantation, the originally EBV-negative patient developed both an EBV-associated clonal B-cell PTLD involving lymph nodes and an EBV-positive T-cell PTLD involving bone marrow and liver. These proliferations occurred concurrently with evidence of primary EBV infection and high plasma viral load. The patient eventually died of multiorgan failure 5 years after the initial transplant (3 years after the second transplant). To our knowledge, only 4 cases of both B-cell and T-cell PTLDs have been reported. Only 2 cases have been proven to be monoclonal and EBV-associated, as in this case, the first following kidney transplantation.     

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in sera from transplant recipients with lymphoproliferative disorders

Early diagnosis of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is important because many patients respond to reduction in immunosuppression, especially if PTLD is detected at an early stage. Previous studies have found elevated EBV DNA levels in blood from patients with PTLD, but these assays required isolation of cellular blood fractions and quantitation. We evaluated the presence of cell-free EBV DNA in serum from solid-organ transplant recipients as a marker for PTLD. Five of 6 transplant recipients with histopathologically documented PTLD had EBV DNA detected in serum at the time of diagnosis (sensitivity = 83%), compared with 0 of 16 matched transplant recipients without PTLD (specificity = 100%) (P < 0.001 [Fisher's exact test]). Furthermore, EBV DNA was detected in serum 8 and 52 months prior to the diagnosis of PTLD in two of three patients for whom stored sera were analyzed. Detection of EBV DNA in serum appears to be a useful marker for the early detection of PTLD in solid-organ transplant recipients. Further studies to define the role of such assays in evaluating solid-organ transplant patients at risk for PTLD are warranted.     

Isolated pleural PTLD after cardiac transplantation

Preamble: Epstein–Barr virus infection (EBV) and immunosuppression promote emergence of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) in patients undergoing organ transplantation. Objective: We report a case of PTLD confined to the pleura. Findings: The patient was a 62-year-old male who had undergone cardiac transplant in 1993 for ischemic heart disease. Seven years later, he presented with dyspnea and bilateral pleural effusions. The CT scan revealed left sided pleural base thickening. The cytology of the pleural fluid and fine needle aspirate of the pleura was both suggestive of PTLD. However, the tissue submitted for ancillary studies did not contain the diagnostic material. A clinical decision was made to withdraw immunosuppressive therapy and start rituximab. His clinical course was complicated by Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and he died 4 months after the diagnosis of PTLD. Autopsy revealed bilateral pleural effusions with pleural nodules involving the visceral and parietal pleura of both lungs. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated B cell lineage with κ/λ ratio of 1. PCR studies done on the pleural nodules (postmortem specimen) revealed the presence of EBV DNA and absence of human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) DNA. In situ hybridization revealed positive staining for EBV RNA within the neoplasm. Conclusion: Pleural-based PTLD is rare. Cytology in conjunction with immunophenotyping and molecular studies can be useful for a definitive diagnosis. In our case, cytology sample was suggestive of PTLD. PCR studies performed on the antemortem specimen confirmed the presence of monoclonal IgH gene rearrangement, while the postmortem specimen revealed oligoclonal IgH gene rearrangement. The change from monoclonal to oligoclonal IgH gene rearrangement suggests reversion of monoclonal to polyclonal PTLD following rituximab and CHOP therapy. We also demonstrated EBV DNA and RNA in the tumor nodules, supporting EBV-induced PTLD.     

Clinical Characteristics of Monomorphic Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders associated with immunosuppression and Epstein-Barr virus infection. PTLD is classified into three major categories: early lesions, polymorphic PTLD, and monomorphic PTLD. The majority of monomorphic PTLD cases are non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma of B-cell origin. This retrospective study was conducted to investigate the incidence, clinical manifestation, treatment, and outcomes of monomorphic PTLD among 5,817 recipients of solid organ or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from five institutions. Fourteen patients with monomorphic PTLD were identified (male:female 11:3; median age 42.6 yr, range 24-60). The overall incidence rate was 0.24%. The most common disease type was diffuse large B cell lymphoma (n=7). The median time between the transplant and diagnosis of PTLD was 85.8 months. However, all cases of PTLD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation occurred within 1 yr after transplantation. Ten of the 14 patients had EBV-positive tumor. Fourteen patients received combination systemic chemotherapy and four patients were treated with radiation therapy. Ten patients achieved a complete response (CR) and two patients a partial response (PR). The median follow-up period for surviving patients was 36.6 months. Nine patients remain alive (eight CR, one PR). Nine of 11 solid organ transplantations preserved graft function. The present study indicates a lower incidence rate and a longer median time before the development of PTLD than those of previous reports. Careful monitoring was needed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for PTLD.     

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders in pediatric patients undergoing liver transplantation

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinicopathologic and molecular genetic findings in posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) following pediatric liver transplantation and to determine the applicability of a recently proposed consensus classification system. DESIGN: The clinical, pathologic, and molecular genetic findings of 11 PTLDs that occurred in 10 patients are presented. These 10 patients were derived from a group of 121 pediatric patients who underwent liver transplantation at the University of California, San Francisco. The PTLDs were classified using the proposed Society for Hematopathology scheme. Clonality was determined by immunohistochemical detection of monotypic immunoglobulin or by using polymerase chain reaction-based methods to detect monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangements. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was detected by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, or polymerase chain reaction. Epstein-Barr virus typing and the presence of LMP1 gene deletions were also analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There were 3 early lesions, 4 polymorphic PTLDs, and 4 monomorphic PTLDs. Monoclonality was demonstrated in 8 of 9 cases assessed. Epstein-Barr virus was present in all cases; of 9 cases assessed by polymerase chain reaction, the virus was type A in 8 and type B in 1. No EBV LMP1 gene deletions were identified. The corresponding liver explants were negative for EBV in 8 cases and positive in 1 case. Greater than 3 foci of disease and monomorphic PTLD were associated with decreased actuarial survival (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of pediatric patients with PTLD is favorable for early lesions and polymorphous PTLD, particularly in patients with localized disease. Multifocal disease and monomorphic PTLD are associated with an unfavorable prognosis.     

Monitoring of EBV-DNAemia by quantitative real-time PCR after adult liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) causes significant morbidity and mortality in transplantation. The clinical significance of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the development of PTLD is clear, but not all EBV-reactivations cause PTLD. OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively analyzed EBV-DNAemia in liver transplant patients by a quantitative TaqMan-based real-time plasma PCR. STUDY DESIGN: Altogether 1284 specimens, obtained from 105 patients for frequent monitoring of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpesvirus-6 and -7 (HHV-6, HHV-7) during the post-transplant year, were retrospectively tested for EBV-DNA. RESULTS: Altogether, 14/105 (13%) patients showed EBV-DNAemia, which usually occurred within 3 months after transplantation and subsided within a few weeks. EBV-DNAemia occurred concurrently with CMV in 10/14, with HHV-6 in 11/14, and with all three betaherpesviruses in 4/14 cases. The peak viral loads were relatively low (median 2100 EBV-DNA copies/ml, range 568-6600), except in one patient who first had low-level EBV-DNA (562-3022 copies/ml) in the early post-transplant period, but on day 175 after transplantation developed high-level DNAemia (9851-86,975copies/ml) which continued for 6 months and developed into PTLD at 6 months after transplantation. CONCLUSION: Low-level EBV-DNAemia is common after liver transplantation, often occurring together with betaherpesviruses, but seldom leads to high viral loads or PTLD. However, monitoring of EBV-DNA levels in the patients can be useful.     

Expression of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (by the EBER-1 gene) in liver specimens from transplant recipients with post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease.

BACKGROUND. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) develops in 1 to 10 percent of transplant recipients, in whom it can be treated by a reduction in the level of immunosuppression. We postulated that the tissue expression of the small RNA transcribed by the EBER-1 gene during latent EBV infection would identify patients at risk for PTLD. METHODS. We studied EBER-1 gene expression in liver specimens obtained from 24 patients 2 days to 22 months before the development of PTLD, using in situ hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe. Control specimens were obtained from 20 recipients of allografts with signs of injury due to organ retrieval, acute graft rejection, or viral hepatitis in whom PTLD had not developed 9 to 71 months after the biopsy. RESULTS. Of the 24 patients with PTLD, 17 (71 percent) had specimens in which 1 to 40 percent of mononuclear cells were positive for the EBER-1 gene. In addition, 10 of these 17 patients (59 percent) had specimens with histopathological changes suggestive of EBV hepatitis. In every case, EBER-1-positive cells were found within the lymphoproliferative lesions identified at autopsy. Only 2 of the 20 controls (10 percent) had specimens with EBER-1-positive cells (P < 0.001), and such cells were rare. CONCLUSIONS. EBER-1 gene expression in liver tissue precedes the occurrence of clinical and histologic PTLD. The possibility of identifying patients at risk by the method we describe here and preventing the occurrence of PTLD by a timely reduction of immunosuppression needs to be addressed by future prospective studies.     

Hodgkin lymphoma-like posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a heterogeneous group of monoclonal or polyclonal lymphoproliferative lesions that occur in immunosuppressed recipients following solid organ or bone marrow transplantation, including 4 categories: (1) early lesions (reactive plasmacytic hyperplasia, and infectious-mononucleosis-like PTLD), (2) polymorphic PTLD, (3) monomorphic PTLD (including B-cell neoplasms and T-cell neoplasms), and (4) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and HL-like PTLD in the current World Health Organization classification. Although HL-like PTLD has been grouped with classic HL PTLD, controversy remains as to whether it is truly a form of HL or whether it should be more appropriately considered as a form of B-cell PTLD. The current available literature data indicate the presence of important immunophenotypic, molecular genetic, and clinical differences between HL PTLD and HL-like PTLD, suggesting that HL-like PTLD is in fact most often a form of B-cell PTLD. Distinction from true HL may be important for clinical management and prognosis.