Objective: To determine the frequency, predisposing factors, clinical presentation, and outcome of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) in pediatric thoracic organ transplant recipients.

Methods: Retrospective review of the medical records of all 120 children who survived longer than 1 month after thoracic organ transplantation at our center.

Results: PTLD was diagnosed in 14 patients (11.7%), including 7.7% of heart and 19.5% of heart-lung/lung recipients. Presentation of PTLD was variable ranging from asymptomatic lung nodules on chest radiograph of diffuse multiorgan failure. Treatment with a reduction of immunosuppression and antiviral therapy resulted in resolution of PTLD in eight patients. Eight patients died. PTLD contributed to death in five. No patient seropositive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) before transplantation had PTLD. There was a significant association between primary EBV infection after transplantation and the presence of PTLD.

Conclusions: PTLD occurs with greater frequency in pediatric thoracic organ transplant recipients than in the adult transplant population. Primary EBV infection after transplantation is the major risk factor for the development of PTLD. Patients in whom primary EBV infection develops after transplantation should be managed with a reduction in immunosuppression and with heightened surveillance for the development of PTLD. (J Pediatr 1997; 131:309-13)