A Case of Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disease (PTLD) Following Renal Transplantation in a Child

ABSTRACT

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) represents a diverse lymphoproliferative disorder ranging from nonspecific reactive hyperplasia to malignant immunoblastic sarcoma developed in a setting of immunosuppression following organ or cellular transplantation. It is often associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and high dose immunosuppression. PTLD after renal transplantation was reported at first in adult in Korea in 1997. In children there have been several cases of PTLD after liver transplantation but PTLD after renal transplantation has not been reported. This is a case report of PTLD developed 4 months after renal transplantation in a 9-year-old boy. The major clinical manifestations were fever, multiple lymph nodes enlargement and blood-tinged stool. EBV was detected by in-situ hybridization in the enlarged cervical lymph node and the colonic tissue. Histological examination revealed B-cell lineage. Use of ganciclovir and reduction of the immunosuppression level resulted in complete remission of PTLD. This is the first pediatric case report of PTLD following renal transplantation in Korea.