Rituximab as treatment of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder in patients who underwent small bowel/multivisceral transplantation: report of three cases

Transplant Proc. 2005 Jul-Aug;37(6):2634-5. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2005.06.032.

Abstract

This report describes three cases of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in multivisceral/small bowel transplant patients treated with rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies). In two cases (one of which was a B-cell lymphoma) a good response to therapy was achieved. A third case (with polymorphic PTLD with low CD20 expression) developed a refractory rejection and PTLD was still documented on graftectomy. Rituximab was well tolerated, and a reduction of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral load was documented by quantitive competitive-EBV polymerase chain reaction. Efficacy of therapy needs to be assessed in controlled studies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Biopsy
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Gardner Syndrome / surgery
  • Humans
  • Intestine, Small / transplantation*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis*
  • Rituximab
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viscera / transplantation*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Rituximab