Coexistence of acute cellular rejection and lymphoproliferative disorder in a lung transplant patient

Acute cellular rejection and Epstein-Barr virus-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in a pediatric lung transplant with low viral load

We report the case of an 18-year-old male who underwent bilateral lung transplantation for end-stage cystic fibrosis. No Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or cytomegalovirus serology mismatch was detected on pre-transplant evaluation (donor and recipient were both positive). Two months after lung transplantation a computed tomography scan showed multiple nodules throughout both lungs. At that time a low EBV DNA blood level was detected (<300 copies/100,000 lymphomonocytes). Scheduled follow-up transbronchial biopsy (TBB) revealed a prevalent finding characterized by perivascular lymphoid infiltrates with endothelitis. Extensive tissue coagulative necrosis with peripheral areas of dense aggregates of larger lymphoid cells were detected in the trans-thoracic fine needle core biopsy (FNCB) performed on the largest nodule. The immunophenotypic profile characterized the perivascular lymphoid cells in TBB as mainly composed of T lymphocytes (CD3 positive) while the larger number of lymphocytes in FNCB as B cells (CD20 positive). In situ hybridization for EBV (EBER mRNA) was negative in TBB while it was positive in many lymphocytes of the FNCB. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for EBV was performed on paraffin-embedded FNCB and detected a high quantity of EBV genomes (1260 copies/cell). IgH gene rearrangement using a fragment size PCR technique revealed a monoclonal B-cell population in FNCB. Morphological and molecular findings suggest a final diagnosis of acute cellular rejection and a post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) EBV-related in a lung transplant recipient with a low EBV DNA blood level. A possible coexistence of PTLD and acute rejection should be considered both for diagnosis and treatment. EBV PCR in the peripheral blood is a useful screening tool in transplant recipients; however, rare cases with PTLD may not have detectable levels of EBV DNA. This aspect should be taken into consideration to avoid false negatives.