Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease in lung transplantation: A nested case-control study

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) may compromise long-term outcome of lung transplant (LTx) recipients. A case-control study was performed, comparing LTx recipients with PTLD (n=31) to matched recipients without PTLD (Controls, n=62). Risk factors for PTLD and post-transplant outcomes were assessed. PTLD prevalence was 3.9%, time to PTLD 323 (166-1132) days; and 54.8% had early-onset PTLD versus 45.2% late-onset PTLD. At LTx, more Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-seronegative patients were present in PTLD (42%) compared to Controls (5%) (P<.0001); most of whom had undergone EBV seroconversion upon PTLD diagnosis. EBV viral load was higher in PTLD versus Controls (P<.0001). Overall, lower hemoglobin and higher C-reactive protein levels were present in PTLD versus Controls (P<.0001). EBV status at LTx (P=.0073) and EBV viral load at PTLD (P=.0002) were the most important risk determinates for later PTLD. Patients with PTLD demonstrated shorter time to onset of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) (P=.0006) and poorer 5-year survival post-LTx (66.6% versus 91.5%), resulting in worse CLAD-free survival (HR 2.127, 95%CI 1.006-4.500; P=.0483) and overall survival (HR 3.297 95%CI 1.473-7.382; P=.0037) compared to Controls. Late-onset PTLD had worse survival compared to early-onset PTLD (P=.021). Primary EBV infection is a risk for PTLD; which is associated with worse long-term outcome post-LTx.