# Case Report: dose adjustment of orelabrutinib for managing central nervous system post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder following acute lymphoblastic leukemia transplantation

**Authors:** Wenwen Wang, Jianlin Chen, Lingsu Guan

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1597119 · 2025-06-26

## TL;DR

This case report shows that adjusting the dose of orelabrutinib helped manage a rare brain-related complication after a stem cell transplant for leukemia.

## Contribution

First evidence-based documentation of BTK inhibitor dose adjustment for CNS PTLD.

## Key findings

- Dose modification of orelabrutinib led to sustained disease stabilization in CNS PTLD.
- BTK inhibitor down-titration may be a safe and effective approach for CNS PTLD.
- The case highlights drug penetration challenges in treating CNS PTLD.

## Abstract

We report a case of acute B-cell leukemia complicated by central nervous system (CNS) post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The patient achieved sustained disease stabilization following therapeutic dose modification of orelabrutinib, representing the first evidence-based documentation that Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor down-titration confers clinical efficacy in PTLD. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated PTLD is a serious complication following allogeneic HSCT, with frequent CNS involvement. Effective treatment for CNS involvement is often hampered by the challenge of drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier. This case highlights the potential benefit and safety of dose-adjusted orelabrutinib in controlling CNS PTLD, suggesting a promising therapeutic approach.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** BTK (Bruton tyrosine kinase)
- **Chemicals:** orelabrutinib (PubChem CID 91667513)
- **Diseases:** post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (MONDO:0019088), PTLD (MONDO:0019088), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MONDO:0004967)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** BTK (Bruton tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 695] {aka AGMX1, AT, ATK, BPK, IGHD3, IMD1}
- **Diseases:** acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MESH:D054198), acute B-cell leukemia (MESH:D015448), CNS (MESH:D002493), PTLD (MESH:D008232)
- **Chemicals:** orelabrutinib (-)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], human gammaherpesvirus 4 (Epstein Barr virus, no rank) [taxon 10376]

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12240773/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12240773