title: Hodgkin's disease in 92 patients with HIV infection: the Italian experience. GICAT (Italian Cooperative Group on AIDS & Tumors).
abstract: Ninety-two cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) in patients with HIV infection have been collected by the Italian Cooperative Group on AIDS and Tumors (G.I.C.A.T.). In accordance with the epidemiology of HIV infection in Italy, 82% were intravenous drug users (IVDU), 8% homosexual men, 5% IVDU+homosexuals and 5% heterosexuals. At diagnosis of HD, 16% had AIDS, 20% AIDS related complex (ARC), 33% persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) and 31% were asymptomatic. Fifty-three percent of the patients had stage IV disease and 70% mixed cellularity and lymphocytic depletion. Forty-six patients were treated with MOPP or MOPP [symbol: see text] ABVD +/- radiotherapy (zidovudine was not given) with complete remission (CR) in 54% and partial remission (PR) in 46% of the patients. Fifty-six percent of these patients developed opportunistic infections (OI) during therapy or follow-up. Sixteen patients were treated with epirubicin, bleomycin and vinblastine (EBV) and concomitant zidovudine, with CR in 44% and PR in 38%. However, only one of these patients developed OI during therapy or follow-up. The clinico-pathological features and natural history of HD in HIV setting are peculiar and quite distinct from those observed in HD in the general population. Better combined chemotherapy and antiretroviral therapy is needed in order to ameliorate the CR rate and decrease the OI in patients with HIV infection and HD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tirelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Errante
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaccher
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Repetto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzardini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gastaldi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertola
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serraino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbone
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000367:Age Factors; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis