Isolated EBV lymphoproliferative disease in a child with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome manifesting as cutaneous lymphomatoid granulomatosis and responsive to anti-CD20 immunotherapy

Abstract

Patients with primary immunodeficiencies such as the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) are prone to develop Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) related lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs). EBV LPD is most frequently seen in patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment after organ transplantation (post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder), but can also arise in the primary immunodeficiencies. Typically, EBV LPD presents as a diffuse systemic disease with lymphadenopathy and organ involvement. A rare angiocentric and angiodestructive form of EBV associated B cell LPD, lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LyG), has also been reported in association with WAS. LyG most commonly involves the lung, but can also be seen in brain, kidney, liver, and skin. This report describes the case of a 16 year old boy with WAS who presented with an isolated non-healing ulcerating skin lesion. Biopsy revealed an EBV related LPD with the histological features of LyG. This cutaneous lesion responded dramatically to treatment with specific anti-CD20 immunotherapy and the patient remains clinically free of LPD at 18 months.

Figure 1

Composite photomicrograph from pretreatment skin biopsy. (A) Haematoxylin and eosin stain. (B) CD79a immunostaining for B cells. (C) CD5 immunostaining for T cells. (D) In situ hybridisation for Epstein-Barr encoded viral RNAs.

Figure 2

Composite photomicrograph from post-treatment skin biopsy. (A) Haematoxylin and eosin stain. (B) CD79a immunostaining for B cells. (C) CD5 immunostaining for T cells. (D) In situ hybridisation for Epstein-Barr encoded viral RNAs.