Epstein-Barr virus-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders presented as interstitial pneumonia; successful recovery with rituximab.

Abstract

We describe a patient that developed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), which presented as interstitial pneumonia. He had received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia 17 months before, when he developed hypoxemia requiring emergent admission. Chest computed tomography revealed pulmonary interstitial shadows, but neither hepatomegaly nor lymphadenopathy were detected. Bronchoscopy with lung biopsy revealed a lymphomatous proliferation of EBV-infected B cells. The interstitial pneumonia rapidly deteriorated, but improved dramatically after treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab). This is the first report of a patient with lung EBV-PTLD that presented as interstitial pneumonia and was successfully treated with rituximab.