Report of AIDS-related lymphoma in South Korea.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of AIDS-related lymphoma (ARL) is increasing in South Korea. The aim of this study is to identify the clinical features of ARL in South Korea.


METHODS
From 1998 through 2006, we retrospectively analysed a total of 23 cases of ARL from seven institutions.


RESULTS
The patients consisted of 20 males and 3 females at a median age of 40 (range, 20-72) on diagnosis of AIDS. ARL developed at their median age of 41 (range, 24-72). The histological diagnosis was aggressive B cell lymphoma in the majority, but rare T cell and NK/T cell lymphoma were also included. Ten of 23 (43.5%) was receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) before the diagnosis of ARL. Fifteen of twenty-three patients were given combination chemotherapy with/without radiation, four were given radiation alone, and four did not receive any treatment against medical advice. Of 20 patients followed-up, nine were alive in remission, two alive in disease, one died of treatment related complication, four died of progressive lymphoma, four died of AIDS related causes. The response to treatment included CR in eight (44.4%), PR in four (22.2%) and PD in three (16.7%). The response to HARRT was evaluable in 13 patients based on CD4+ cell count and HIV viral load, among which nine (69.2%) responded. Estimated median survival time was 43.9 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the population of patients is small, this is the first clinical data analyses of Korean ARL patients. As a substantial portion of the patients remains alive disease free, the impact of HAART on the clinical course of ARL needs further follow-up and evaluation.
Kim
Jin-Soo
JS
Department of Medicine, Inha University Hospital, 7-206, 3rd street, Shinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 400-711, South Korea. cskimmd@inha.ac.kr.
Kim
Seok Jin
SJ
Kim
Jin-Seok
JS
Kim
Eun Sun
ES
Shin
Ho-Jin
HJ
Chung
Joo Seop
JS
Min
Yoo-Hong
YH
Lee
Moon Hee
MH
Choi
Young Jin
YJ
Bang
Soo-Mee
SM
Kim
Jung A
JA
Cho
Goon Jae
GJ
Chi
Hyun-Sook
HS
Jang
Seong Soo
SS
Park
Chan Jeoung
CJ
Suh
Cheolwon
C
Park
Chong Won
CW
Kim
Chul Soo
CS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome