Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a complication after liver transplantation. This study aims to explore the association of PTLD with the immunosuppression, types of PTLD, clinical presentation, and outcomes. Methods: Following the PRISMA guideline, we searched the literature on PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and clinicaltrials.gov. 1741 articles were screened and 22 studies were included. Results: Data includes 22,235 total patients who underwent a liver transplant, and 449 (2.0%) patients who developed PTLD were studied. Of the 394 patients where gender was reported, 226 were male and 168 were female. Post-transplant EBV status was positive for 63/115 (56%). 11 studies showed that the median time from transplant to the development of PTLD was 33.4 months. Among the histological types of PTLD, the monomorphic B-cell was the most common type with 127/235 (54%) cases, followed by early lesions 25/235, polymorphic 24/235, Hodgkin lymphoma 8/235, and monomorphic T-cell type 7/235. Treatment of PTLD involved reduction or cessation of the immunosuppressive drugs along with chemotherapy surgery and radiotherapy. Mortality data from 13 studies showed 68/259 (31.3%) patients died either due to PTLD or its complication. Conclusions: PTLD is rare but associated with high mortality after liver transplantation. EBV seropositivity is associated with PTLD in the majority of cases. Monomorphic PTLD is the most common type of PTLD after liver transplantation with DLBCL being the most common subtype. Abdominal symptoms and fever are among the most common symptoms. PTLD after Liver transplant a review of studies.

DLBCL: diffuse large B cell lymphoma; HL: Hodgkin Lymphoma; M:mean, m: months; NHL: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; UC: Unclassified, y: years.