title: Changing incidence and survival in patients with aids-related non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
abstract: To determine role of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and additional factors in incidence and outcome of patients with AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) we retrospectively analyzed 257 cases of AIDS-related NHL (24 low-grade, 168 high-grade B-cell, 6 high-grade T-cell, and 59 primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSL) among 2004 patients with HIV-infection treated at the University Hospital of Frankfurt, Germany from January 1983 to May 1999. Data were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses, using overall survival as end point. Patients received CHOP-like therapy as standard treatment. Until May 1999 incidence of all diagnosed cases of NHL was decreasing (1991-94: 14.2% versus 1995-5/99: 12.8%). Mainly, the incidence of low-grade NHL and PCNSL clearly decreased whereas the incidence of high-grade B-cell NHL increased compared to all diagnosed cases of NHL (1983-86: 53.3% versus 1995-5/99: 78.6%). One-year survival probability of all screened patients with AIDS related NHL was 54%, while 5-year survival rate remained 5%. We found age <25 years, development of NHL in the years before 1990, IVDU, CD4 counts <150/microl, PCNSL as well as NHL as the AIDS index disease, to be highly significant independent predictors of poor survival, including increased hazard ratios. In the era of HAART incidence of NHL is decreasing, mainly the incidence of low-grade NHL and PCNSL. Overall survival of patients has been prolonged with HAART. This development is mainly due to improvement of antiretroviral therapy, rather than to any fundamental changes in the chemotherapeutic treatment of NHL. Therefore, new treatment approaches for AIDS-related NHL should focus on more efficient antiretroviral therapy in association with combination chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Johann-Wolfgang Goethe University, Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology/ Oncology and Infectious Diseases, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mitrou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geduldig
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoelzer
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Brodt
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D000367:Age Factors; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents