Update on posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease

Purpose of review: Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), frequently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), is one of the most serious complications leading to worse patient and graft outcomes. Hence, we summarize in this review relevant studies published about PTLD in the last 18 months.

Recent findings: Recent studies have improved the knowledge about epidemiology, prophylaxis, diagnosis and PTLD treatment. Special interest has developed in improving the last PTLD classification of the World Health Organization, increasing the accuracy of diagnostic tests for EBV viral load quantification and discriminating the genetic differences between PTLD types.

There seems to be no real advantage in the use of antiviral drugs for prophylaxis, but better results in therapeutic approaches are being obtained mainly with the use of rituximab with or without chemotherapy, but also with the possibility of using adoptive T-cell therapy or new drugs.

Summary: PTLD continues being a complication that requires continued effort of the scientific community to reduce its incidence and to develop better diagnostic tests and new strategies that improve results in prophylaxis and treatment.

CITATION  Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2018 Nov;27(6):440-444. doi: 10.1097/MNH.0000000000000457.