World Lymphoma Awareness Day – Understanding Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders (PTLD)
Join us in recognizing World Lymphoma Awareness Day, 15th September, a day dedicated to raising awareness of lymphomas, which are cancers of the lymphocytes or white blood cells.
This day sheds light on a type of cancer with more than 80 subtypes and that affects up to 864,000 people world wide1,2. One of these subtypes is Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).
PLTD is a rare disease characterized by the development of lymphoid neoplasms after solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation3,4.
As we mark World Lymphoma Awareness Day this September, Pierre Fabre Laboratories is dedicated to shine a light on this rare condition. PTLD is a potentially life-threatening complication that can occur after an organ transplant. The occurrence of PTLD varies from 2% to 20%, depending on the type of transplant5.
Our commitment is to educate, support, and inspire action among patients, healthcare professionals, and the broader community to improve understanding and management of PTLD.
Understanding PTLD
Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) is a spectrum of lymphoid proliferations that can occur following hematopoietic (bone marrow) or solid organ transplantation3,4. Patients who receive a transplant are subjected to a strong immunosuppressive regimen to prevent rejection, which makes individuals susceptible to the disease, resulting in very few cases of PTLD5.PTLD is characterized by proliferation of white blood cells (B lymphocytes) which often are infected by the Epstein Barr virus.6
What causes PTLD?
• Although children who are infected with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), also called infectious mononucleosis, may not display any symptoms, the virus can lead to the development of mononucleosis in adolescents and adults.7• It is estimated that 90% of the world-wide adult population has life-long EBV infection.7• Immunosuppressive therapy can produce the reactivation of EBV-infected B lymphocytes.8,9• In an immunosuppressed patient, T-cells are low in number, and they cannot properly eliminate the virus.10 This can lead to the rapid proliferation of EBV-infected B-cells, causing PTLD.6
Prevalence and Risk of PTLD
PTLD occurs in solid organ transplants and in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation3,4.
The risk of developing PTLD depends on the degree of immunosuppression, the EBV serostatus and age.8,9,13,14
• The more immunosuppressed the patient is, the greater the risk of developing PTLD.12,14 The degree of compatibility between recipient and donor is very important, especially in the case of stem cell transplants.12,14• PTLD can occur when the transplanted patient’s own EBV is reactivated or because the EBV from the donor is reactivated in the patient.8,9• Children under 10 years and adults over 50 years (haematopoietic transplant) or 60 years (solid organ transplant) are at higher risk of developing PTLD.12,14
Symptomatology and diagnosis
Some of the common PTLD symptoms are: 8,9,14