Post transplant CD8+gamma delta T-cell lymphoma associated with human herpes virus-6 infection

gamma delta T-cell lymphoma is a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder t hat has been reported in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons . This report describes a forty eight year old patient who developed gamma delta T-cell lymphoma four years after undergoing living-related kidney tra nsplantation. The lymphoma expressed CD2, CD3, CD7, CD8 and CD56, and the g amma delta T-cell receptor and did not express CD5, CD4 and the alpha beta T-cell receptor. In addition, HHV-6 was cultured from the patient's bone ma rrow, marking the first time that this virus has been associated with gamma delta T-cell lymphoma. Since all patients with gamma delta T-cell lymphoma described to date have responded poorly to standard combination chemothera pies, the patient was treated with the purine analogue 2-chlorodeoxyadenosi ne. While he responded transiently to treatment, long term remission was no t achieved indicating that additional therapeutic approches still need to b e developed, for the management of this disorder.