Epstein–Barr Virus-Induced B-Cell Lymphoma after Renal Transplantation

Abstract

THE Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a transforming herpesvirus that selectively infects B lymphocytes, causes infectious mononucleosis,¹ and may have a role in the development of Burkitt's lymphoma,² nasopharyngeal carcinoma,³ and the lymphoid disorders arising in Duncan's disease.⁴ EBV has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of the lymphoproliferative diseases occurring in immunosuppressed recipients of organ transplants.⁵ These disorders can be characterized morphologically as either polymorphic diffuse B-cell hyperplasia or polymorphic B-cell lymphoma.⁶ On histologic grounds they can be differentiated from infectious mononucleosis, other reactive lymphoid hyperplasias, immunoblastic B-cell sarcoma, and Burkitt's lymphoma.⁶ Polymorphic diffuse B-cell hyperplasia and polymorphic B-cell lymphoma . . .