Danger of systemic cyclosporine for corneal graft.

PURPOSE: To report a case of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in a patient receiving oral cyclosporine (CS) for immunosuppression in a high-risk keratoplasty.

METHODS

A systemic CS therapy was given to prevent graft rejection of a keratoplasty. Risk rejection was high in regard to a previous graft rejection and persistence of a corneal vascularization. One year after the keratoplasty, the patient developed a gastric Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced B cell lymphoma. The outcome was favorable after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This unique case of lymphoma (PTLD) in the course of corneal graft management questions the indications and the follow-up of patients with CS therapy and raises the issue of topical CS treatment.