Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder as a cause of graft dysfunction after heart transplantation.

Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are heterogeneous lymphoid proliferations representing a major complication of solid organ transplant. PTLDs are serious complications and may happen at different times after transplantation. Many risk factors are known, such as age, type of organ transplanted, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection before transplant and immunosuppressive therapy. The PTLD incidence in solid organ transplant recipients is variable: from 1% in patients with renal allografts to 6-10% in patients with heart-lung transplantation, and up to 20% in lung transplant recipients. Many reports describe the evolution of PTLDs in heart transplant recipients, but PTLD as an unknown cause of graft dysfunction has never been reported.