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Passenger Lymphocyte Syndrome

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Chimerism

Abstract

Passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS) is a well-described but infrequent complication of hematopoietic progenitor cell and solid organ transplantation that occurs when viable donor B lymphocytes present within an allograft are passively transferred to a recipient during transplantation. These donor lymphocytes produce antibodies, which mount an immune response directed primarily against recipient red blood cell (RBC) antigens, resulting in antibody-mediated RBC destruction. Donor-derived antiplatelet antibodies can also result in transient thrombocytopenia. Factors affecting the degree of hemolysis or thrombocytopenia are the quantity of transplanted lymphoid tissue present within the transplanted organ, the antibody titer in the donor before transplantation, and the rate of increasing antibody titer in the recipient following transplantation. Hemolysis due to PLS following transplantation can be severe but is generally self-limited.

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Acknowledgment

Mark R. Hopkins, MD, created Fig. 8.1.

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  1. Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Nicole L. Draper MD & Jamie E. Kallan MD

  2. Transfusion Services, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA

    Nicole L. Draper MD

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Correspondence to Nicole L. Draper MD .

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  1. Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Nicole L. Draper

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Draper, N.L., Kallan, J.E. (2018). Passenger Lymphocyte Syndrome. In: Draper, N. (eds) Chimerism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89866-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89866-7_8

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