Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric malt lymphoma in liver transplant recipients

Background Immunosuppressed transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing several forms of malignancy. The aim of this study is to report the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of four liver transplant recipients with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric mucosae-associated l ymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Methods. The medical records of four liver transplant recipients with gastr ic MALT lymphoma were reviewed. In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr-enco ded ribonucleic acid was performed on formalin-fixed tissues. Results. All four subjects presented with abdominal symptoms at a mean of 6 .1 years posttransplant. Ulcerative lesions biopsied at endoscopy demonstra ted early stage gastric MALT lymphoma with associated Helicobacter pylori g astritis. In situ hybridization revealed no evidence of Epstein-Barr virus infection in examined tissues. Antibiotic eradication of Helicobacter pylor i lead to disease remission in three subjects with a mean follow-up of 21 m onths, and one subject failed to respond to antibiotics and radiation thera py and died from metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma. Conclusions. Early-stage, low grade gastric MALT lymphoma that was associat ed with Helicobacter pylori gastritis responded to antibiotic therapy with a sustained clinical remission in three of four treated subjects. If other studies confirm a higher than expected incidence of gastric MALT lymphoma i n immunosuppressed transplant recipients with Helicobacter pylori infection , screening and treating Helicobacter pylori infection in selected transpla nt patients may prove beneficial.