Clinical profiles of human immunodeficiency virus-associated lymphoma in Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the clinical and prognostic features of human immunodeficiency virus-associated lymphoma in the local population with a view to designing more effective treatment strategies.


METHODS
Retrospective review.


METHODS
Referral hospital, Hong Kong.


METHODS
All patients (n=10) with human immunodeficiency virus-associated lymphoma managed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital from January 1995 to December 2001.


RESULTS
All patients were men with a median age of 39 years. The median CD4 cell count at the time of diagnosis of lymphoma was 0.056 x 10(9)/L. All tumours were diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, with the exception of one systemic Burkittlike lymphoma. Systemic lymphoma was diagnosed in seven patients and three had primary central nervous system lymphoma. Combined antiretroviral therapy was continued or given to five of the six patients who received some form of chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment. Of the two patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma who received whole brain irradiation therapy, one patient survived 41 months in clinical remission after diagnosis and the other patient died of sepsis while in partial remission 19 months after diagnosis. The four patients with systemic lymphoma who received standard- or reduced-dose chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone had a median survival of 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical profiles of these patients were similar to those of patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated lymphoma in western countries. The overall survival of patients was poor with conventional chemoradiotherapy. Other innovative treatment approaches should be investigated to prolong the survival of this patient group.
Mak
Y K
YK
Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 30 Gascoigne Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Chan
C H
CH
Li
C K P
CK
Lee
M P
MP
Tsang
Y W
YW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010976:Platelet Count; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006454:Hemoglobins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D011241:Prednisone