Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in a cardiac transplant recipient

Tex Heart Inst J. 2001;28(3):203-7.

Abstract

Mycosis fungoides, an uncommon form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, arises in the skin and frequently progresses to generalized lymphadenopathy Although the cause of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is unknown, chronic immunosuppression may play a role. A few cases have been reported in renal transplant recipients; however, ours appears to be the 1st report of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in a cardiac transplant recipient. In our patient, cutaneous manifestations of the disease were noted less than 1 year after transplantation. Seven years after transplantation, Sézary syndrome, a variant form of mycosis fungoides, was diagnosed by tissue biopsy and flow cytometry analysis. Photopheresis improved symptoms but was not well tolerated because of hemodynamic sequelae. Psoralen and ultraviolet A therapy also improved the patient's skin condition, but a generalized lymphadenopathy developed. The maintenance immunosuppressive regimen was changed from cyclosporine (3 mg/kg/day) and azathioprine to cyclosporine (1.5 mg/kg/day) and cyclophosphamide. Although effective in the short-term, the results of this therapeutic strategy could not be fully evaluated because the patient died of acute myocardial infarction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Azathioprine / adverse effects
  • Cyclosporine / adverse effects
  • Heart Transplantation / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Mycosis Fungoides / drug therapy
  • Mycosis Fungoides / epidemiology
  • Mycosis Fungoides / immunology*
  • PUVA Therapy
  • Photopheresis
  • Prednisone / adverse effects
  • Sezary Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Sezary Syndrome / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology*

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclosporine
  • Azathioprine
  • Prednisone