Late relapse of acute myelogenous leukemia followed by epstein-barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disease 11 years after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Int J Hematol. 2006 Dec;84(5):441-4. doi: 10.1532/IJH97.06113.

Abstract

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) following myeloablative conditioning represents the treatment of choice for patients with chemotherapy-resistant leukemia. We describe a 49-year-old man with advanced, refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) that was treated successfully by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from a sibling donor with HLA mismatched at 1 locus. However, the patient developed a quiescent form of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) 7 years after transplantation, requiring long-term immunosuppressive therapy. AML relapse was documented 11 years after transplantation. Subsequently, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) was also diagnosed. Immune reconstitution after allo-HSCT might have been impaired by the persistent chronic GVHD and the prolonged administration of immunosuppressive agents. As a result, immune surveillance against remaining quiescent leukemic cells as well as viral infection may have been defective, leading to the relapse of leukemia and EBV-associated PTLD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / etiology
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / virology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / therapy
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / virology
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Time Factors
  • Transplantation, Homologous