Epstein-Barr virus lymphoproliferative disorder in children with leukemia: case report and review of the literature

Iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorder in a child with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) are a group of lymphoid proliferations or lymphomas that are well known to be associated with an immunosuppressed state. These disorders most commonly occur following hematopoietic or solid organ transplantation (called post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders or PTLD), but cases have also been described during the treatment of autoimmune and rheumatologic disorders by immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory medications. These disorders are strongly associated with infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as a result of impaired immune function in the immunosuppressed state. While this phenomenon has been well documented in autoimmune conditions, cases affecting pediatric patients while on anti-leukemia chemotherapy are lacking. In this report, we describe a case of a pediatric immunosuppressed patient with recurrent sinusitis found to have a nasopharyngeal mass consistent with EBV-positive B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder resembling a polymorphic PTLD during the maintenance phase of B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) therapy. The patient was successfully treated with rituximab without any cytotoxic chemotherapy, highlighting the importance of recognizing this clinical entity in non-transplant patients with hematologic malignancies.

Facial manifestations of Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoproliferative disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission: Two atypical presentations

Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoproliferative disease (EBV-LPD) rarely occurs in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who have not received hematopoietic transplantation. We describe EBV-LPD manifesting as facial lesions in two children with ALL in remission. One patient was a 16-year-old male with T-cell ALL with an EBV-positive angiocentric polymorphous lip lesion presenting as right-sided facial swelling. The other patient was a 12-year-old male with B-cell ALL with an EBV-positive polymorphous lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate presenting as bilateral dacryoadenitis. Neither patient had known primary immunodeficiencies. Both cases improved with immunosuppressant de-escalation. These cases suggest that immunosuppression induced by maintenance chemotherapy is sufficient to promote EBV-LPD.

Central nervous system involvement of epstein barr virus associated lymphoproliferative disorder in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: successful treatment with rituximab and interferon-alpha

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disease is a rare and serious complication in children with leukemia. Although rituximab therapy seems to be promising in these cases, persistent hypogammaglobulinemia may appear after treatment due to complete depletion of normal B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Here we report isolated CNS involvement of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder in a 4-year-old boy with acute leukemia. The patient was treated with rituximab and interferon alpha; however, persistent hypogammaglobulinemia developed as a complication. Given the rarity of the complication in children receiving these agents, our experience with such a case may be helpful to others.

Conflict of interest:None declared.

Angiocentric immunoproliferative lesion and angiocentric lymphoma of lymph node in children. A report of two cases

AIM

To report two examples of an angiocentric immunoproliferative lesion (AIL) and angiocentric angiodestructive lymphoma (AL) presenting in lymph nodes in children. Most commonly involving extranodal sites, AIL/AL rarely presents in the spleen and lymph nodes.

METHODS/RESULTS

Case 1 presented as a cervical lymphadenopathy in a 3 year old girl being treated for pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Histological and immunohistochemistry studies revealed an Epstein-Barr virus positive (EBV+), large B cell (CD20 and CD30+) AIL with large areas of necrosis, the whole resembling lymphomatoid granulomatosis. Case 2 presented as a large supraclavicular lymphadenopathy in a 13 year old boy. Histology and immunohistochemistry revealed an EBV-, large T cell (CD45RO, CD56, and CD30+) AL, presenting the features of so called angiocentric T cell/natural killer cell lymphoma, nasal type.

CONCLUSIONS

The term AIL/AL refers to a heterogeneous group of conditions not unique to a particular type of lymphoid cell. These lesions are easily recognised by the histopathologist because of their extremely unusual angiocentric pattern. Although rare, AIL/AL may present as nodal lesions in children ab initio.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia followed by a clonally-unrelated EBV-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a clonally-related myelomonocytic leukemia cutis

BACKGROUND

Complicating malignant hematopoietic proliferations might severely hamper the course of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in patients with an otherwise good prognosis. It is important to distinguish whether such neoplastic proliferations represent ALL relapses or secondary treatment-related malignancies.

PROCEDURE

We present an 11-year-old girl with precursor-B-ALL in whom maintenance treatment was complicated by an isolated ALL relapse in the brain, nodular lymphoproliferations in the liver, and an isolated myelo-monocytic leukemia cutis. All these hemato-oncologic malignancies occurred in the background of a secondary immunodeficiency, most likely caused by cytotoxic treatment.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Using a stepwise molecular approach, we were able to demonstrate that the liver infiltrates were Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive, contained monoclonal mature B-cells with immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGH) gene rearrangements unrelated to the primary ALL, and thus represented a true secondary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In contrast, the skin infiltrates consisted of myelo-monocytic cells with clonal IGH and T-cell receptor gamma gene rearrangements, identical to the precursor-B-ALL blasts at diagnosis. Thus, the disease course of the precursor-B-ALL patient was complicated by two different isolated extramedullary relapses (brain and skin) and a secondary EBV(+) B-NHL.

B-Cell lymphoproliferative disorder not associated with Epstein-Barr Virus in a child with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) is described in only a few children receiving chemotherapy for cancer. In all of them, an association between LPD and EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus) was found. We report on a patient who developed LPD not associated with EBV while receiving chemotherapy for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Despite discontinuation of chemotherapy, administration of intravenous immunoglobulins and surgery the patient died. Growing experience with this disorder may allow better treatment options in the future and will show whether LPD not associated with EBV requires different therapeutic strategies.

Cutaneous EBV-related lymphoproliferative disorder in a 15-year-old boy with AIDS: an unusual clinical presentation

Lymphomas are a well-known malignancy in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Most lymphomas are of B-cell lineage and cutaneous involvement is rare. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas have been previously described in adults with HIV-1 infection but are exceptional in HIV-1 infected-children. The authors report here the extremely rare case of a large-cell cutaneous lymphoproliferation of T-cell lineage expressing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens in a 15-year-old boy with AIDS and his uncommon clinical presentation. The atypical clinical evolution with a nonaggressive treatment emphasizes that for immunosuppressed patients, the diagnosis of immunosuppression-related lymphoproliferative disorder should be considered before giving the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma when tumoral lymphoid cells express EBV antigens.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoma in a child undergoing an autologous stem cell rescue

Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disease (EBV-LPD) is a serious disorder seen in various states of immunodeficiency, often with a fatal outcome. In this article, a patient with EBV-lymphoma after autologous stem cell rescue for treatment of a nonhematologic solid tumor is described. The child, a 4-year-old boy, had unilateral retinoblastoma with metastatic spread to the central nervous system. He had previously received both local tumor bed and craniospinal radiation therapy together with intensive myeloablative alkylator chemotherapy before autologous stem cell rescue. Histologically confirmed lymphoma with evidence of active EBV proliferation developed within cervical lymph nodes 3 weeks after his first autologous stem cell rescue. A complete clinical remission of the lymphadenopathy was obtained after infusions of rituximab (an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody), acyclovir, and high-titer anticytomegalovirus immunoglobulin. The patient died approximately 6 months later of persistent and progressive retinoblastoma without any clinical evidence of lymphoma. It is concluded that EBV-LPD should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients in whom lymphadenopathy develops after autologous stem cell rescue.

Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoproliferative disease complicating childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: no recurrence after unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation

A 16-year-old boy in complete remission of ALL, undergoing oral maintenance therapy, developed intestinal perforation related to EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease (LPD). He was successfully managed with surgical resection, acyclovir, immunoglobulins and discontinuation of maintenance therapy. Leukemic marrow relapse occurred 3 months later, treated by polychemotherapy followed by unmanipulated BMT from a matched unrelated EBV seropositive donor. Donor lymphocytes were infused twice after transplant because of delayed immunologic recovery and severe CMV colitis. This was followed by acute GVHD requiring prolonged immunosuppressive treatment. Despite intensive and prolonged immunosuppression, recurrence of LPD was not observed. Following EBV-related LPD, allogeneic BMT can be performed if indicated. Selection of an EBV seropositive donor is of major importance for the prevention of LPD recurrence as the recipient may be protected by passive transfer of EBV-specific cytotoxic T cells.

Central nervous system involvement of Epstein-Barr virus lymphoproliferative disease in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoproliferative disease (EBV-LPD) is a serious and often fatal complication of a variety of immune-suppressed conditions. A 6-year-old boy undergoing chemotherapy for standard-risk acute lymphocytic leukemia experienced separate episodes of EBV-LPD in different organ systems. The patient experienced three separate episodes of EBV-LPD in the cervical lymph node, the central nervous system (CNS), and the liver occurring, respectively, in January 1992, February 1992, and November 1993 after the completion of chemotherapy in May 1993. The EBV presence was confirmed by in situ hybridization in the biopsy samples from each lesion. Several different treatment modalities, including acyclovir, intravenous gamma globulin, and surgery were used to combat the EBV-LPD. The patient has recovered completely, with normal CNS and liver function, and for the past 6 years has experienced leukemia remission while not receiving chemotherapy. Careful monitoring of patients and the use of new immune therapies offer the highest chance for successful outcomes in such patients.

Atypical Lymphoproliferative Diseases

This review addresses the clinical presentation, pathology, and therapy of several uncommon lymphoid proliferations. Because these lymphoproliferations span the characteristics of reactive polymorphous proliferations to clonal malignant neoplasms, they are often difficult to diagnose and treat effectively.

In Section I, Dr. Greiner describes the pathology of the spectrum of atypical lymphoid disorders including Castleman's disease, angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy, lymphadenopathy in autoimmune diseases, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders, and X-linked lymphoproliferative disorder. The relationship to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpsesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is discussed, and molecular diagnostic assays and principles for obtaining proper diagnostic evaluation are emphasized.

In Section II, Dr. Armitage presents a practical approach to the management of Castleman's disease. The discussion includes the importance of confirmation of the histological diagnosis and careful staging evaluation, therapeutic options, and the increased risks for infection and lymphoma. The appropriate roles of surgical excision, corticosteroids, and combination chemotherapy are addressed along with alternative strategies such as anti-interleukin-6 and bone marrow transplantation.

In Section III, Dr. Gross reviews the treatment of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders in primary immunodeficiencies and in post-transplant patients. He gives an update on the recent molecular discoveries in X-linked lymphoproliferative disorder. Preliminary results of a phase II trial of low-dose cyclophosphamide in posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders and the use of GM-CSF as preemptive therapy are presented.

Atypical Lymphoproliferative Diseases

This review addresses the clinical presentation, pathology, and therapy of several uncommon lymphoid proliferations. Because these lymphoproliferations span the characteristics of reactive polymorphous proliferations to clonal malignant neoplasms, they are often difficult to diagnose and treat effectively.

In Section I, Dr. Greiner describes the pathology of the spectrum of atypical lymphoid disorders including Castleman's disease, angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy, lymphadenopathy in autoimmune diseases, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders, and X-linked lymphoproliferative disorder. The relationship to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpsesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is discussed, and molecular diagnostic assays and principles for obtaining proper diagnostic evaluation are emphasized.

In Section II, Dr. Armitage presents a practical approach to the management of Castleman's disease. The discussion includes the importance of confirmation of the histological diagnosis and careful staging evaluation, therapeutic options, and the increased risks for infection and lymphoma. The appropriate roles of surgical excision, corticosteroids, and combination chemotherapy are addressed along with alternative strategies such as anti-interleukin-6 and bone marrow transplantation.

In Section III, Dr. Gross reviews the treatment of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders in primary immunodeficiencies and in post-transplant patients. He gives an update on the recent molecular discoveries in X-linked lymphoproliferative disorder. Preliminary results of a phase II trial of low-dose cyclophosphamide in posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders and the use of GM-CSF as preemptive therapy are presented.

Monoclonal Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoproliferative disorder following adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

A 31-year-old patient in remission of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), receiving oral maintenance chemotherapy (6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate (MTX), cyclophosphamide), developed a monoclonal, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD). Treatment consisted of excisional biopsy and the discontinuation of maintenance chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first such report in an adult. The histological similarity to previous reports of 'lymphomatoid granulomatosis' following paediatric ALL suggests that they are the same disease. MTX may play a central role in the development of LPD in this setting. Although it is a rare complication of ALL, EBV-related LPD should be considered in patients who develop lymphadenopathy.

Restricted diversification of T-cells in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection: potential inclination to T-lymphoproliferative disease

To assess the abnormal T-cell expansion in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV), T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoire was analyzed in four patients with the disease. All fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of CAEBV, presenting with fever, hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenia, abnormal high titers of anti EBV-antibodies, and positive EBV genome of unknown cause. Southern blotting probed with EBV-terminal repeats and TCR Cbeta gene indicated clonal expansion of the infected cells in 3 and 2 patients, respectively. The number of CD4+ HLA-DR+ cells appreciably increased in patients 1 (59%) and 2 (24%), who had a coronary aneurysm and central nervous system involvement, respectively. TCR gene expression examined by the inverse polymerase chain reaction methods revealed that Vbeta gene usages were preferential in all patients (Vbeta7 and Vbeta12: patient 1, Vbeta4: patient 2, Vbeta13: patients 3 and 4), compared with those in healthy controls. Valpha18 gene expression was remarkably high in patients 1 and 2. Moreover, Jbeta gene expression was skewing in the reigning Vbeta clones in all patients. Vbeta4-Jbeta1.5 and Vbeta13-Jbeta1.5 genes were clonally expressed in patients 2 and 4, respectively. These results suggest that CAEBV is associated with the restricted diversity of T-cells, which may stem from the sustained expansion of oligoclonal T-cells possibly driven by conventional viral antigens, but not, superantigens. Although the study is limited by the small number of patients, the unbalanced T-cell repertoire might contribute to the evolution of T-lymphoproliferative disease, otherwise, imply the innate defective immunity to EBV in CAEBV patients.

Interferon-alpha treatment of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder in recipients of solid organ transplants

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) has been treated with decreased immunosuppression, antiviral medications, anti-B lymphocyte agents, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. However, a standardized stepwise approach to treatment has not been previously evaluated. In the present study, 19 consecutive patients presenting to a single institution with newly diagnosed PTLD were treated according to a sequential protocol that consisted of (1) a reduction in immunosuppressive medications plus, if feasible, resection or definitive radiation therapy of localized disease, (2) interferon-alpha, and (3) systemic chemotherapy. Of the 3 patients presenting exclusively with localized disease, two were treated with resection of pulmonary parenchymal nodules and one was treated with radiation therapy to a paraspinous mass, without evidence of recurrence at a mean follow-up of 31 months (range, 8 to 46 months). Sixteen patients presented with PTLD not amenable to local therapy, and they were treated daily with 3x10(6) units/m2 subcutaneous interferon-alpha. Total regression of PTLD (defined as disappearance of the tumor mass by physical examination or computed tomography scanning) was found in 8 of 14 patients who received at least 3 weeks of interferon therapy. Interferon-alpha therapy was continued for 6 to 9 months in the eight patients judged to be responders. None of these patients have relapsed to date with the same neoplastic clone. Two patients, however, developed new neoplastic clones. Seven patients received systemic chemotherapy with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) (n=1), EPOCH (etoposide, vincristine, and doxorubicin administered as a continuous infusion, with an intravenous bolus of cyclophosphamide and oral prednisone) (n=4), or EPOCH followed by DHAP (dexamethasone, cytarabine, and cisplatin) (n=2) after failure of interferon-alpha; five patients had a complete response. Only 1 of the 19 patients died of uncontrolled PTLD. These results suggest that the majority of solid organ transplant recipients who develop PTLD can be safely and successfully treated using a sequential approach to therapy.