Relationship of Immunosuppression to Epstein-Barr Viral Load and Lymphoproliferative Disease in Pediatric Heart Transplant Patients

Frequent EBV load monitoring identifies patients at high risk for PTLD development. Azathioprine and ATG are major risk factors for increased EBV load and PTLD and patients may benefit from a change of immunosuppression in addition to pre-emptive anti-viral or anti-tumor strategies.