Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are uncontrolled lymphocyte proliferations arising when immunosuppressive therapy, required to prevent transplant rejection, also impairs the immune system's normal surveillance function of eliminating aberrantly replicating lymphocytes — chiefly T-cell regulation of B-cell replication. This dysregulation can manifest as benign polyclonal hyperplasia or malignant lymphoma, frequently associated with Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in B cells that would otherwise be controlled by cytotoxic and helper T-cell activity. The concept belongs to transplant immunology, illustrating a broader tradeoff principle in immunosuppressive therapy between preventing graft rejection and preserving immune surveillance against neoplastic transformation.
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are uncontrolled lymphocyte proliferations arising when immunosuppressive therapy, required to prevent transplant rejection, also impairs the immu…