A response of rituximab plus lenalidomide therapy in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder in the central nervous system: a case report

Abstract Background Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder are rare complications normally with unfavorable prognosis. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the central nervous system is a rare disorder and predominantly presents...

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Main Authors: Hanguo Guo, Hong Zhang, Wenyu Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Medical Case Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05307-x
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author Hanguo Guo
Hong Zhang
Wenyu Li
author_facet Hanguo Guo
Hong Zhang
Wenyu Li
author_sort Hanguo Guo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder are rare complications normally with unfavorable prognosis. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the central nervous system is a rare disorder and predominantly presents as diffuse large B-cell lymphomas of non-germinal center cell origin. However, the treatment for these patients with this diagnosis has not reached a consensus. Case 1 and 2 presentations In this case report, one patient with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and another patient with methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder were both diagnosed with Epstein–Barr virus–diffuse large B-cell lymphomas of primary central nervous system. The former case was a 37-year-old Han Chinese female diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the central nervous system after a kidney transplant, and the latter case was a 61-year-old Han Chinese male diagnosed with methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder after receiving methotrexate treatment for psoriasis. The initial treatment for both of them was rituximab plus lenalidomide followed by lenalidomide as maintenance for disease progression or intolerance. After the treatment, magnetic resonance imaging showed partial response or complete remission of their brain lesions. In addition, the renal function of the patient with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the central nervous system was normal, and psoriasis did not recur in the patient with methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder during lenalidomide maintenance treatment. Conclusion The treatment has proved to be a promising therapeutic method for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the central nervous system and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder, when the decreasing or withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy could not achieve a satisfying outcome. Owing to the relatively small sample size, the effect of this treatment should be further investigated under a larger sample size.
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spelling doaj-art-a6a6acaa46ce4d64ab2a43fd3c388a6e2025-08-20T03:08:42ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472025-05-011911610.1186/s13256-025-05307-xA response of rituximab plus lenalidomide therapy in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder in the central nervous system: a case reportHanguo Guo0Hong Zhang1Wenyu Li2Department of Lymphoma, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Lymphoma, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Lymphoma, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityAbstract Background Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder are rare complications normally with unfavorable prognosis. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the central nervous system is a rare disorder and predominantly presents as diffuse large B-cell lymphomas of non-germinal center cell origin. However, the treatment for these patients with this diagnosis has not reached a consensus. Case 1 and 2 presentations In this case report, one patient with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and another patient with methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder were both diagnosed with Epstein–Barr virus–diffuse large B-cell lymphomas of primary central nervous system. The former case was a 37-year-old Han Chinese female diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the central nervous system after a kidney transplant, and the latter case was a 61-year-old Han Chinese male diagnosed with methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder after receiving methotrexate treatment for psoriasis. The initial treatment for both of them was rituximab plus lenalidomide followed by lenalidomide as maintenance for disease progression or intolerance. After the treatment, magnetic resonance imaging showed partial response or complete remission of their brain lesions. In addition, the renal function of the patient with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the central nervous system was normal, and psoriasis did not recur in the patient with methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder during lenalidomide maintenance treatment. Conclusion The treatment has proved to be a promising therapeutic method for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the central nervous system and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder, when the decreasing or withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy could not achieve a satisfying outcome. Owing to the relatively small sample size, the effect of this treatment should be further investigated under a larger sample size.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05307-xCentral nervous systemPost-transplant lymphoproliferative disorderMethotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorderRituximabLenalidomide
spellingShingle Hanguo Guo
Hong Zhang
Wenyu Li
A response of rituximab plus lenalidomide therapy in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder in the central nervous system: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Central nervous system
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
Methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder
Rituximab
Lenalidomide
title A response of rituximab plus lenalidomide therapy in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder in the central nervous system: a case report
title_full A response of rituximab plus lenalidomide therapy in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder in the central nervous system: a case report
title_fullStr A response of rituximab plus lenalidomide therapy in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder in the central nervous system: a case report
title_full_unstemmed A response of rituximab plus lenalidomide therapy in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder in the central nervous system: a case report
title_short A response of rituximab plus lenalidomide therapy in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder in the central nervous system: a case report
title_sort response of rituximab plus lenalidomide therapy in patients with post transplant lymphoproliferative disease and methotrexate related lymphoproliferative disorder in the central nervous system a case report
topic Central nervous system
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
Methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder
Rituximab
Lenalidomide
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05307-x
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