Article
Oncology
Zeinab A. M. Afify, Mary M. Taj, Manuela Orjuela-Grimm, Kavitha Srivatsa, Tamara P. Miller, Holly J. Edington, Mansi Dalal, Joanna Robles, James B. Ford, Matthew J. Ehrhardt, Tonya J. Ureda, Jeremy D. Rubinstein, Sarah McCormack, Julie M. Rivers, Karen M. Chisholm, Madison K. Kavanaugh, Andrew J. Bukowinski, Erika D. Friehling, Maegan C. Ford, Sonika N. Reddy, Lianna J. Marks, Christine Moore Smith, Clinton C. Mason
Summary: This study retrospectively reviewed the treatment and outcomes of 36 pediatric patients with EBV(-)M-PTLD. The results showed a three-year event-free survival rate of 64.8% and an overall survival rate of 79.9%. The diversity of treatment regimens highlights the need for a pediatric PTLD registry to evaluate treatment outcomes.
Article
Hematology
Zeinab Afify, Manuela Orjuela-Grimm, Christine Moore Smith, Mansi Dalal, James B. Ford, Pallavi Pillai, Joanna M. Robles, Sonika Reddy, Sarah McCormack, Matthew J. Ehrhardt, Tonya Ureda, Warren Alperstein, Holly Edington, Tamara P. Miller, Jeremy D. Rubinstein, Madison Kavanaugh, Andrew J. Bukowinski, Erika Friehling, Julie M. Rivers, Karen M. Chisholm, Lianna J. Marks, Clinton C. Mason
Summary: PSOT-BL is a clinically aggressive malignancy and a rare form of PTLD. Most patients developed PSOT-BL more than 2 years after transplantation. Heart and liver were the most frequently transplanted organs. The outcomes of intensive regimens for PSOT-BL patients are comparable to immunocompetent children with BL. Multi-institutional collaboration is important for collecting prospective data to determine the optimal treatment regimen.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Quenia dos Santos, Neval Ete Wareham, Amanda Mocroft, Allan Rasmussen, Finn Gustafsson, Michael Perch, Soren Schwartz Sorensen, Oriol Manuel, Nicolas J. Muller, Jens Lundgren, Joanne Reekie
Summary: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a well-recognized complication after solid organ transplantation, and early detection or prediction of PTLD is crucial. This study developed and validated a risk score to predict PTLD among solid organ transplant recipients. The risk score, which included pre-transplant Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) status, donor/recipient serostatus, plasma EBV DNA, hemoglobin, and C-reactive protein levels, showed a strong discriminatory ability in both derivation and validation cohorts. This score can help identify high-risk patients and potentially prevent the development of PTLD.
Article
Pediatrics
Alastair Baker, Esteban Frauca Remacha, Juan Torres Canizales, Luz Yadira Bravo-Gallego, Emer Fitzpatrick, Angel Alonso Melgar, Gema Munoz Bartolo, Luis Garcia Guereta, Esther Ramos Boluda, Yasmina Mozo, Dorota Broniszczak, Wioletta Jarmuzek, Piotr Kalicinski, Britta Maecker-Kolhoff, Julia Carlens, Ulrich Baumann, Charlotte Roy, Christophe Chardot, Elisa Benetti, Mara Cananzi, Elisabetta Calore, Luca Dello Strologo, Manila Candusso, Maria Francelina Lopes, Manuel Joao Brito, Cristina Goncalves, Carmen Do Carmo, Xavier Stephenne, Lars Wennberg, Rosario Stone, Jelena Rascon, Caroline Lindemans, Dominik Turkiewicz, Eugenia Giraldi, Emanuele Nicastro, Lorenzo D'Antiga, Oanez Ackermann, Paloma Jara Vega
Summary: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in 13 European centers with 34 SOT programs on PTLD practices, revealing that decisions for preemptive treatment were often based on EBV viremia monitoring and clinical assessment, while reducing immunosuppression was a common initial treatment modality at diagnosis. A total of 126 PTLD cases were reported from 2012 to 2016, with an 88% survival rate among diagnosed cases.
Review
Pediatrics
Cal Robinson, Rahul Chanchlani, Abhijat Kitchlu
Summary: As life expectancy among pediatric solid organ transplant recipients improves, the risk of comorbid conditions such as malignancy post-transplantation has also increased. Different risk factors exist for PTLD, and skin and solid cancers, and optimal cancer treatment strategies depend on the specific cancer type, stage, and patient comorbidities. Lifestyle counseling regarding smoking avoidance and sun protection, as well as human papillomavirus vaccination, is important for cancer prevention in pediatric SOTRs.
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Surgery
Jing-Yi Liu, Jin-Ming Zhang, Hao-Su Zhan, Li-Ying Sun, Lin Wei
Summary: The study summarized the use of EBV-CTLs in the treatment of PTLD, demonstrating safety and effectiveness. Research from around the world shows that EBV-CTLs can effectively treat refractory PTLD, playing a crucial role in improving patient survival rates and recovery.
TRANSPLANT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Hematology
Anna Santarsieri, John F. Rudge, Irum Amin, Will Gelson, Jasvir Parmar, Stephen Pettit, Lisa Sharkey, Benjamin J. Uttenthal, George A. Follows
Summary: This study presents the incidence and outcomes of PTLD in a cohort of 5365 SOT recipients over a 20-year period at two UK transplant centers. PTLD incidence varied based on the type of transplant, with shorter overall survival compared to the general population. First-line rituximab monotherapy did not compromise overall survival, but non-lymphoma related mortality remained high.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Michele Clerico, Irene Dogliotti, Andrea Aroldi, Chiara Consoli, Luisa Giaccone, Benedetto Bruno, Federica Cavallo
Summary: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a serious complication of immunosuppression after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) or solid organ transplantation (SOT). The majority of PTLD cases are caused by B-cell abnormalities and are associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The EBV serological status and the degree of T-cell immunosuppression are considered significant risk factors for developing PTLD. Despite advancements in understanding the pathogenesis and introducing new treatment options, treating PTLD after alloHSCT remains challenging, particularly in rituximab-refractory cases. This review focuses on exploring the pathogenesis, risk factors, and treatment options of PTLD in the alloHSCT setting, specifically adoptive immunotherapy options such as EBV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (EBV-CTL) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T).
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Eric Lau, Justin Tyler Moyers, Billy Chen Wang, Il Seok Daniel Jeong, Joanne Lee, Lawrence Liu, Matthew Kim, Rafael Villicana, Bobae Kim, Jasmine Mitchell, Muhammed Omair Kamal, Chien-Shing Chen, Yan Liu, Jun Wang, Richard Chinnock, Huynh Cao
Summary: PTLD is a lymphoid or plasmacytic proliferation that develops in immunosuppressed recipients of solid organ transplantation, with infants having a longer time to PTLD diagnosis and EBV viral load potentially serving as a marker of survival in EBV-positive PTLD patients.
Review
Immunology
Lorenzo Zaffiri, Eileen T. Chambers
Summary: Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a group of lymphoproliferative diseases that occur in the setting of immunosuppression, with serious complications and mortality risk. Personalized risk evaluation based on EB virus serostatus and viral load determination is crucial for predicting PTLD development. Different therapeutic approaches and virus-specific cytotoxic T cells have been used to treat PTLD.
Article
Hematology
Rochelle E. Fletcher, Natalia S. Nunes, Michael T. Patterson, Natasha Vinod, Shanzay M. Khan, Suresh K. Mendu, Xianghong Li, Alessandra de Paula Pohl, Lucas P. Wachsmuth, Hyoyoung Choo-Wosoba, Michael A. Eckhaus, David J. Venzon, Christopher G. Kanakry
Summary: Posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) reduces graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but its mechanism is not fully understood. This study showed that Tregs were necessary for controlling GVHD induced by new donor cells but PTCy's impact on Tregs was indirect. The study also suggested that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) played a complementary role in GVHD prevention and their percentages increased after PTCy administration.
Article
Surgery
Masaki Yamada, Camila Macedo, Kevin Louis, Tiange Shi, Douglas Landsittel, Christina Nguyen, Masayoshi Shinjoh, Marian G. Michaels, Brian Feingold, George V. Mazariegos, Michael Green, Diana Metes
Summary: Chronic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a significant problem after pediatric organ transplantation, especially in heart transplant recipients with high viral load. This study analyzed the immune characteristics of CD8(+)/CD4(+) T cells in pediatric heart, kidney, and liver transplant recipients, and identified distinct phenotypic and transcriptomic profiles in heart HVL carriers. The results suggest different incidences of EBV complications and provide insights for risk stratification and clinical management in different types of transplant recipients.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Tatsuya Okamoto, Hideaki Okajima, Elena Yukie Uebayashi, Eri Ogawa, Yosuke Yamada, Katsutsugu Umeda, Hidefumi Hiramatsu, Etsurou Hatano
Summary: With the advancement of immunosuppressive strategies, liver transplantation outcomes have improved significantly in children. However, Epstein-Barr virus infection and post-transplant lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLD), such as malignant lymphoma, remain serious complications that contribute to morbidity and mortality. Recently, early diagnosis through quantitative PCR and PET-CT testing, as well as treatment with rituximab, have shown promising results in achieving long-term remission. However, determining the optimal immunosuppression protocol after PTLD remission and finding treatments for refractory PTLD (e.g., PTL-NOS) are still areas of focus.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Olivia M. Martinez, Sheri M. Krams, Mark A. Robien, Mary G. Lapasaran, Matthew P. Arvedson, Andrea Reitsma, Yarl Balachandran, Aleishia Harris-Arnold, Kenneth Weinberg, Scott D. Boyd, Brian Armstrong, Amber Trickey, Clare J. Twist, Dita Gratzinger, Brent Tan, Merideth Brown, Clifford Chin, Dev M. Desai, Thomas M. Fishbein, George V. Mazariegos, Akin Tekin, Robert S. Venick, Daniel Bernstein, Carlos O. Esquivel
Summary: EBV-positive PTLD in pediatric transplant recipients is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Identifying individuals at increased risk of EBV-positive PTLD can inform clinical management and improve posttransplant outcomes.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Gerard Socie, Pere Barba, Arie Barlev, Jaime Sanz, Irene Garcia-Cadenas, Patrice Chevallier, Franca Fagioli, Norma Guzman-Becerra, Deepali Kumar, Per Ljungman, Arnaud Pigneux, Natalia Sadetsky, Lucrecia Yanez San Segundo, Mazyar Shadman, Jan Storek, Dhanalakshmi Thirumalai, Baodong Xing, Mohamad Mohty
Summary: EBV+ PTLD is a rare and aggressive condition that may occur following HCT. Treatment options are limited and prognosis is poor for patients with R/R EBV+ PTLD.
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Johanna Lemke, Raphael Schild, Martin Konrad, Lars Pape, Jun Oh
Summary: With the increasing number of migrants, the pediatric nephrology community is dealing with challenges in managing ESKD in pediatric refugee population. Data on the care of these children on RRT is lacking, and they often face obstacles such as psychosocial issues, cultural differences, language barriers, and administrative problems. Treatment centers need to provide additional resources to address these challenges.
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Burkhard Toenshoff, Helio Tedesco-Silva, Robert Ettenger, Martin Christian, Anna Bjerre, Luca Dello Strologo, Stephen D. Marks, Lars Pape, Udaykiran Veldandi, Patricia Lopez, Marc Cousin, Priti Pandey, Matthias Meier
Summary: The CRADLE study compared two different treatment regimens in pediatric kidney transplant recipients, showing no significant differences in graft loss, renal function, height, and weight changes between the EVR + rTAC and MMF + sTAC groups. However, growth was better in prepubertal patients on EVR + rTAC. The incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events was also comparable between the two groups.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2021)
Review
Pediatrics
Thurid Ahlenstiel-Grunow, Lars Pape
Summary: Virus-specific T cells can serve as a prognostic marker to identify pediatric kidney transplant recipients at risk for viral complications. Higher levels of virus-specific T cells are associated with decreased virus load and better outcomes, suggesting that monitoring these cells could help personalize antiviral therapy management.
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jan Boeckhaus, Julia Hoefele, Korbinian M. Riedhammer, Burkhard Tonshoff, Rasmus Ehren, Lars Pape, Kay Latta, Henry Fehrenbach, Baerbel Lange-Sperandio, Matthias Kettwig, Peter Hoyer, Hagen Staude, Martin Konrad, Ulrike John, Jutta Gellermann, Bernd Hoppe, Matthias Galiano, Michaela Gessner, Michael Pohl, Carsten Bergmann, Tim Friede, Oliver Gross
Summary: Early initiation of therapy in patients with Alport syndrome can slow down renal failure by many years. Genotype-phenotype correlations suggest that the location and character of the individual's variant correlate with the renal outcome and any extra renal manifestations. In-depth clinical and genetic data analysis of children in the EARLY PRO-TECT Alport trial revealed important insights into disease progression and the impact of genetic variants on clinical outcomes.
Article
Pediatrics
Oliver Beetz, Clara A. Weigle, Rabea Nogly, Juergen Klempnauer, Lars Pape, Nicolas Richter, Florian W. R. Vondran
Summary: The field of pediatric kidney transplantation faces challenges due to size-matched grafts and anatomical peculiarities. The study investigated surgical complications in pediatric recipients, with vascular complications being the leading cause for revision. Apart from vascular complications, analyzed surgical morbidities did not significantly influence graft survival.
PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Nele Feddersen, Lars Pape, Jan Beneke, Korbinian Brand, Jenny Pruefe
Summary: The study highlighted the significance of medication adherence in solid organ transplantation. A multidisciplinary treatment approach is essential in supporting pediatric renal transplant recipients to improve adherence and graft survival.
PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Lutz T. Weber, Burkhard Toenshoff, Ryszard Grenda, Antonia Bouts, Rezan Topaloglu, Bora Guelhan, Nikoleta Printza, Atif Awan, Nina Battelino, Rasmus Ehren, Peter F. Hoyer, Gregor Novljan, Stephen D. Marks, Jun Oh, Agnieszka Prytula, Tomas Seeman, Clodagh Sweeney, Luca Dello Strologo, Lars Pape
Summary: Recurrence of primary disease is a major risk factor for graft loss after pediatric kidney transplant, especially in idiopathic cases where FSGS/SRNS recurrence risk can be as high as 86%. Consensus recommendations are needed for prevention and treatment, with educated statements formulated based on thorough literature search and panel discussions.
PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION
(2021)
Review
Virology
Eleonora Naimo, Jasmin Zischke, Thomas F. Schulz
Summary: Kaposi-sarcoma-associated herpesvirus plays a crucial role in causing several malignancies, but current herpesviral DNA polymerase inhibitors are not always effective against KSHV-induced diseases. New therapeutic strategies are needed to improve patient outcomes.
Article
Microbiology
Naira Samarina, George Ssebyatika, Tanvi Tikla, Ja-Yun Waldmann, Bizunesh Abere, Vittoria Nanna, Michelangelo Marasco, Teresa Carlomagno, Thomas Krey, Thomas F. Schulz
Summary: The interaction between KSHV infection-induced Kaposi's sarcoma and PLCγ1 structure provides a new clue for potential drug targets. pK15 is considered to be a gene that promotes PLCγ1 activation, which can be inhibited from binding to PLCγ1 by drugs.
Article
Pediatrics
Lars Pape, Gundula Ernst
Summary: A structured health care transition from pediatric medicine to adult medical care is necessary for young people with chronic health care needs. Germany has developed guidelines to support this transition, which include age-adapted patient education, involvement of caregivers, and a structured summary for the receiving physician. These guidelines may help establish globally accepted standards for appropriate support of young people.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Virology
Abdul Rahman Siregar, Sabine Gartner, Jasper Gotting, Philipp Stegen, Artur Kaul, Thomas F. Schulz, Stefan Pohlmann, Michael Winkler
Summary: This study reports the development of a recombinant system for PaHV2 and the generation of viruses carrying reporter genes. These viruses can be used to analyze the susceptibility of cells to infection and the inhibitory effects of neutralizing antibodies and antiviral compounds.
Review
Microbiology
Gary McLean, Jeremy Kamil, Benhur Lee, Penny Moore, Thomas F. Schulz, Alexander Muik, Ugur Sahin, Ozlem Tureci, Shanti Pather
Summary: The emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 has raised concerns about the impact on vaccination programs. Current vaccines are effective against some variants, but effectiveness varies. Booster programs can restore protection against infection and symptomatic disease, but the effectiveness may decrease over time. Antibodies may have reduced neutralizing activity against certain variants, but T-cell responses remain relatively stable.
Article
Pediatrics
Christian Patry, Britta Hoecker, Luca Dello Strologo, Lukas Baumann, Ryszard Grenda, Licia Peruzzi, Jun Oh, Lars Pape, Lutz T. Weber, Marcus Weitz, Atif Awan, Andrea Carraro, Matthias Zirngibl, Matthias Hansen, Dominik Mueller, Martin Bald, Carine Pecqueux, Kai Krupka, Alexander Fichtner, Burkhard Toenshoff, Joanne Nyarangi-Dix
Summary: This multicenter analysis study shows that pre- or posttransplant surgical reconstruction of the lower urinary tract in pediatric kidney transplant recipients has comparable outcomes over a 5-year period.
PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Samuel A. A. Osanyinlusi, Jasmin Zischke, Roland Jacobs, Eva M. M. Weissinger, Thomas F. F. Schulz, Penelope C. C. Kay-Fedorov
Summary: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) inhibits T cell antiviral functions by interacting with CD45 on T cells via its pUL11 glycoprotein, leading to enhanced viral spread. This discovery provides insights into HCMV's immunomodulatory strategy and a new T cell regulatory mechanism.
Review
Pediatrics
Thurid Ahlenstiel-Grunow, Lars Pape
Summary: After pediatric kidney transplantation, it is crucial to find the optimal balance between over- and under-immunosuppression to avoid unnecessary exposure to immunosuppressive drugs. Currently, there is a lack of diagnostic markers to assess the individual intensity of immunosuppression.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR PEDIATRICS
(2021)