Summary The use of Epstein–Barr virus‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (EBV‐CTLs) in adoptive immunotherapy in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients with post‐transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) has demonstrated safety and effectiveness. EBV‐CTLs might also be the effective treatment of refractory PTLD of solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients. Two independent assessors searched Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from their inception to November 2020. Eleven studies with 76 patients (42, 55% male) were included. We extracted the data and completed the quality assessments. Most of the studies were from Europe and the USA. Liver and kidney transplantation accounted for most of the transplant types. Thirty‐five (46.1%) patients were diagnosed with monomorphic PTLD, and B lymphocyte type was the most common. All the patients received primary treatment for PTLD while it was ineffective. CTLs included autologous EBV‐CTLs (15/76, 22%) and HLA‐matched third‐party EBV‐CTLs (61/76, 78%). The response rate for EBV‐CTL treatment of refractory PTLD was 66%. Of 50 patients, 36 achieved complete remission and 14 achieved partial remission. EBV‐DNA level decreased in 39 patients. Adverse reactions were rare and mild. We conclude that adoptive therapy with EBV‐specific CTLs is safe, well‐tolerated, and effective in PTLD.

Background Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HoFH) increase risk of premature cardiovascular events and cardiac death. In severe cases of HoFH, clinical signs and symptoms cannot be controlled well by non-surgical treatments, liver transplantation (LT) currently represents the viable option.Method To assess the clinical efficacy, prognosis and optimal timing of LT for HoFH, a retrospective analysis was conducted on the preoperative, surgical conditions and postoperative follow-up of children who received a LT for HoFH at the Beijing Friendship Hospital over the period from December 2014 to August 2022.Results Xanthoma and decreased activity tolerance were the primary clinical manifestations in the 7 HoFH children initially assessed (one child died suddenly prior to surgery due to cardiac arrest). Accompanying these symptoms were increased blood total cholesterol(TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, along with severe cardiovascular diseases. HoFH was confirmed in all cases by genetic and biochemical assays. Initial treatments administered to these patients consisted of low-fat diets and lipid-lowering drugs with poor outcomes. Accordingly, all 6 patients received orthotopic liver transplantations(OLT), with the result that significant postoperative reductions were observed in levels of TC and LDL. The median follow-up of these six cases was 37.41 months (range: 19.40 to 94.10 months). Regular postoperative follow-ups revealed that all children survived, were in good health and showed significant improvements in their clinical symptoms.Conclusion LT can serve as an effective means for treatment of HoFH in children. This LT should be performed prior to the onset of cardiovascular diseases to achieve maximal effects in improving the quality of life for these children.

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