Although the proportion of HTR developing new tumors is greater as compared with KTR, the mean number of tumors per patient is higher in KTR. This could be due to a longer immunosuppression in patients younger at transplantation.

Low incidences of acute rejection were found in both treatment arms. Induction treatment with ATG has the advantage of a lower incidence of acute rejection, but it significantly increases adverse events, particularly CMV infection.

Eighty-two consecutive Caucasian adults (52 males, 30 females, aged 17-86 years) with membranous glomerulonephritis were prospectively evaluated for possible aetiological factors 1-4 weeks after renal biopsy. Presumed causes were identified in 17 patients (21%) as follows: drugs in five (D-penicillamine 3, captopril 1, fenoprofen 1); malignancy in four; chronic thyroiditis in three; systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in two; secondary syphilis in one; hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in one and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in one patient. Except for age (patients with secondary membranous glomerulonephritis were older), clinical presentation and histological stage distribution did not differ between the secondary and the primary groups. Ten out of the 17 patients with secondary membranous glomerulonephritis (59%) achieved complete clinical remission within 12 months. The incidence of associated conditions in adults with membranous glomerulonephritis in this study corresponds with that reported in the few previous series. Although membranous glomerulonephritis is deemed to be idiopathic in most cases, it seems warranted to search for medication, malignancy, SLE, HBV infection, syphilis and thyroiditis as possible aetiological factors. Further evaluation should be orientated by the clinical context. An improved outcome of membranous glomerulonephritis may be expected insofar as the underlying condition is controlled.

No abstract

Hodgkin's disease (HD) has seldom been reported after transplantation. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in about 50% of Reed-Sternberg cells in HD developing in immunocompetent individuals, but is more frequently found in HD of acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients. We report 7 cases of HD that occurred in transplant recipients. Clinical and pathological data and studies of EBV reveal specific features of HD after transplantation. Six patients received kidney transplants and 1 patient received combined kidney and pancreas transplantation. Immunosuppressive therapy consisted of cyclosporine, steroids, azathioprine, and antilymphocyte globulins. One patient received, in addition, anti-CD3 mAb therapy and an EBV+ B cell lymphoma developed. Retrospective EBV serological data from patients were collected. Tumors were classified according to pathology. EBV studies were conducted by immunohistochemical methods with monoclonal antibodies to EBV-latent membrane protein (LMP) or EBV-nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2), and by in situ hybridization for latent nuclear EBV-early RNAs (EBERs). The mean lapse of time between transplantation and HD was 49 months. Six patients presented with enlarged lymph nodes and 1 patient presented with liver involvement. HD was classified as IA in 2 patients, IIA in 3 patients, IIIB in 1 patient, and IVB in 1 patient. Four patients had primary EBV infection after graft, before HD, and the others reactivated latent EBV infection. Histological subtypes were mixed cellularity in 6 cases and lymphocytic depletion in 1 case. Latent EBV infection was detected with EBERs in all tumors. Reed-Sternberg cells expressed LMP, and were negative for EBNA2 expression. Six patients were treated: 2 patients at stage I received radiotherapy, and relapsed within 1 year with a more advanced stage of HD; chemotherapy was indicated as primary therapy in 5 patients, and as salvage therapy in 2 patients; it was associated with radiotherapy in 4 patients. Immunosuppressive therapy was reduced in all patients. Four patients were alive and in complete remission 18, 25, 31, and 67 months after chemotherapy, with a functioning graft in 3 patients. Two patients died of infection. Mixed cellularity is the most frequent histological subtype observed in HD occurring in transplant patients. EBV is present in all Reed-Sternberg cells. Posttransplant HD shows similarities with human immunodeficiency virus-associated HD. These facts argue for a role of EBV infection and immunosuppression in the progression of HD after transplantation.