Severe cold agglutinin disease caused by recurrent monomorphic Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), clonally related to an EBV‐negative plasmacytic hyperplasia in a pediatric multivisceral organ transplant recipient

Abstract

PTLD represent major post‐transplant complications. The major etiologic factor is EBV. Association with cold agglutinin disease has not been described so far. We report a three‐yr‐old girl who developed oligoclonal EBV‐negative plasmacytic hyperplasia as well as Coombs test‐positive anemia one yr after multivisceral organ transplantation, performed after subtotal bowel resection for colointestinal aganglionosis and liver cirrhosis resulting from long‐term parenteral nutrition. The patient was treated for plasmacytic hyperplasia with cyclophosphamide and prednisolone and achieved clinical remission. One yr later PTLD progressed possibly driven by EBV to DLBCL. The migration patterns of the amplified Ig heavy chain genes demonstrated a probable clonal relationship of the DLBCL to a clone almost present in the plasmacytic hyperplasia. This progression was accompanied by a rapid rise of cold agglutinin titers with symptoms of severe cold agglutinin disease, leading to right femoral and extern iliac vein thromboses requiring partial leg amputation. After four cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, and prednisolone, the patient achieved complete PTLD remission and the cold agglutinins disappeared. Summarizing, PTLD may be accompanied by cold agglutinin disease, and both may be successfully treated by immuno‐chemotherapy. The appearance of cold agglutinins in transplant patients may indicate PTLD development.