Early post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder – Case of fatal lymphoma after kidney transplantation

Abstract

Introduction Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a common malignancy following organ transplantation. Risk for PTLD is associated with the use of anti-thymocyte globulin in the prevention and treatment of acute rejection following kidney transplantation.

Case Outline We report a case of fatal PTLD presented with sudden onset of fever. A 33-year-old male patient with primary diagnosis of left kidney agenesia underwent kidney transplantation six years following hemodialysis treatment initiation. Deceased donor was a 66-year-old female whose cause of death was cerebrovascular accident. Immunosuppressive regimen consisted of basiliximab, corticosteroids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. Six months upon transplantation the patient was hospitalized due to fever of unknown origin. All microbiological samples were negative, but abdominal ultrasound revealed round solid mass in the right native kidney. Right nephrectomy was performed showing tumor 35 × 35 × 20 mm in size within the 70 × 40 × 35 mm kidney. Pathohistological analysis confirmed very rare monomorphic B-cell PTLD – B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Conclusion We consider this case of PTLD following kidney transplantation particular because of the tumor mass in native kidney after basiliximab induction and rare pathohistology. In a transplanted patient with fever, PTLD must always be considered, irrespective of immunosuppressive regimen.

Keywords: kidney transplantation; post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder; immunosuppression; fatal outcome