Clinical features and outcome of primary effusion lymphoma in HIV-infected patients: a single-institution study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical features and outcome of HIV-associated primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and to compare them with those of the other HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs).


METHODS
From April 1987 to June 2002, 277 patients with HIV infection and systemic NHL were diagnosed and treated in our institution. Clinical features and outcome of PEL patients were compared with the features and outcomes of 162 patients belonging to the following histologic subtypes: plasmoblastic lymphoma of oral cavity (PBLOC, n = 11), immunoblastic lymphoma (IBL, n = 76), and centroblastic B-cell lymphoma (CBCL, n = 75).


RESULTS
Among the 277 NHL patients, PEL was diagnosed in 11 patients (4%). Eight of 11 patients were treated with a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP)-like regimen. Complete remission was reached in 42% of patients, with a median survival time of 6 months. When the clinical features and outcome of 11 PEL patients were compared with the other three groups of patients affected by NHL, at the onset of the disease, no statistically significant differences were observed in demographic data, CD4 absolute number, HIV viremia plasma levels, and clinical characteristics. When we compared the outcome of PEL patients with the CBCL group, a statistically significant worse outcome was observed; however, the clinical outcome of PEL patients was not significantly different from the outcome observed in the other two groups (PBLOC and IBL groups).


CONCLUSIONS
PEL is a rare HIV-associated NHL type occurring as a late manifestation of HIV infection with a poor clinical outcome and a shorter overall survival compared with CBCL patients.
Division of medical Oncology A, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy.
Cecelia
C
Simonelli
Michele
M
Spina
Roberta
R
Cinelli
Renato
R
Talamini
Rosamaria
R
Tedeschi
Annunziata
A
Gloghini
Emanuela
E
Vaccher
Antonio
A
Carbone
Umberto
U
Tirelli
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone