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Mature T/NK-cell lymphoproliferative disease and Epstein–Barr virus infection are more frequent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate

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Abstract

We retrospectively analyzed in 54 consecutively enrolled Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) relevant clinicopathological characteristics, in particular paying attention to treatment with methotrexate (MTX). Between the 28 patients treated with MTX (MTX-treated group) and the 26 who were not (non-MTX group), there was no difference in age, interval between onset of RA and LPD, and lymphoma stage. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that in the MTX-treated group, 15 (53 %) patients had mature B-cell LPD, eight (29 %) mature T/NK-cell LPD, and five (18 %) had Hodgkin lymphoma. In the non-MTX group, 22 (84 %) had mature B-cell LPD, 2 (8 %) had mature T/NK-cell LPD, and 2 (8 %) had Hodgkin lymphoma. The frequency of mature T/NK-cell LPD was significantly higher in the MTX-treated group (p < 0.05). Of the eight patients in the MTX-treated group with mature T/NK-cell LPD, two had large granular lymphocytic leukemia and the other six had a variety of different histological types with frequent CD8 but not CD56 expression. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection was significantly higher in the MTX-treated group (p < 0.05); evidence of latent type II EBV infection was found in four of the eight patients with mature T/NK-cell LPD. Withdrawal of MTX led to complete remission in seven patients with mature T/NK-cell LPD irrespective of EBV infection. Our findings highlight that mature T/NK-cell LPD is a frequent complication in RA patients treated with MTX. EBV infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of T/NK-cell LPD, as well as B-cell LPD and Hodgkin lymphoma in MTX-treated RA patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Japan

    Seiji Kondo, Kazuki Tanimoto, Goichi Yoshimoto & Seiichi Okamura

  2. Department of Hematology, Saga Prefectural Hospital Koseikan, 1-12-9 Mizugae, Saga, Japan

    Seiji Kondo

  3. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, Japan

    Kozue Yamada & Morishige Takeshita

  4. Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Japan

    Eiichi Suematsu

  5. Department of Hematology, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, 1 Bunkyocho, Matsuyama, Japan

    Tomoaki Fujisaki

  6. Pathological Laboratory, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, 1 Bunkyocho, Matsuyama, Japan

    Yumi Oshiro

  7. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, Japan

    Kazuo Tamura

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  1. Seiji Kondo
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  2. Kazuki Tanimoto
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  3. Kozue Yamada
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  4. Goichi Yoshimoto
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  7. Yumi Oshiro
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  8. Kazuo Tamura
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  9. Morishige Takeshita
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  10. Seiichi Okamura
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Correspondence to Seiji Kondo.

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Kondo, S., Tanimoto, K., Yamada, K. et al. Mature T/NK-cell lymphoproliferative disease and Epstein–Barr virus infection are more frequent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate. Virchows Arch 462, 399–407 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-013-1389-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-013-1389-1

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