Azathioprine-induced reversible EBV-associated Hodgkin-like lymphoma after immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune hepatitis .

The use of immunosuppressive agents is associated with an increased risk of the development of certain types of malignancies, particularly lymphoma. Many of these lymphomas are associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which might be reactivated under immunosuppression. We present the case of a patient with an autoimmune hepatitis who developed EBV-associated Hodgkin-like lymphoma under immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine. The tumor regressed spontaneously after withdrawal of azathioprine. The development of an EBV-associated Hodgkin-like lymphoma under this immunosuppressive therapy, and especially the regression of the lymphoma after cessation of azathioprine, confirms the relationship between this immunosuppressant, EBV-infection, and the development of Hodgkin-like lymphoma.
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