title: Lymphoma-induced polyradiculopathy in AIDS: two cases.
abstract: Progressive polyradiculopathy is a rare, well-documented complication of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in man. It has been commonly attributed to a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. We report two HIV-infected patients with clinical and electrophysiological features of a unique, subacute, progressive polyradiculopathy. Post-mortem examination in case 1 disclosed an infiltration of the leptomeninges, the lumbar spinal cord, and the anterior and posterior roots by a B-cell immunoblastic lymphoma. Immunochemistry for HIV1 and CMV was negative in the peripheral and the central nervous system. Case 2 showed bone-marrow involvement by a Burkitt type lymphoma. Specific chemotherapy was followed by both clinical improvement of the polyradiculopathy and complete remission on a second bone-marrow biopsy. These findings may indicate that a lymphoma must also be considered a possible cause of polyradiculopathy in AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Clinique des Maladies du Système Nerveux, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Léger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hénin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélec
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bouche
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hauw
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brunet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004172:Diplopia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000150:complications*; D016400:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Immunoblastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology