Diagnosis and management of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder insolid-organ transplant recipients

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has a pivotal pathophysiologic role in the dev elopment of most lymphoproliferative disorders that occur after solid-organ transplantation. The term "EBV-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferati ve disorder" (PTLD) includes all clinical syndromes of EBV-associated lymph oproliferation, ranging from uncomplicated posttransplant infectious mononu cleosis to true malignancies that contain clonal chromosomal abnormalities. PTLDs are historically associated with a high mortality rate in patients w ho have a monoclonal form of the disorder. Recently described approaches to pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive strategies of PTLD, howeve r, have the potential to improve outcome.