title: A prognostic score for AIDS-related diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in Brazil.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate a prognostic score for aids-related lymphoma (ARL). A retrospective study of 104 patients with ARL treated between January 1999 and December 2007 was conducted. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBC) was the most observed histological type (79.8%). The median CD4 lymphocyte count at lymphoma diagnosis was 125 cells per microliter. Treatment response could be evaluated in 83 (79.8%) patients, and 38 (45.8%) reached complete remission (CR); overall response rate was 51.8% (95 CI = 38.5-65.1%). After a median follow-up of 48 months, the 4-year overall survival (OS) rate among all patients was 35.8%, with a median survival time of 9.7 months (95% CI = 5.5-13.9 months). The survival risk factors observed in multivariate analysis (previous AIDS and high-intermediate/high international prognostic index (IPI)) were combined to construct a risk score, which divided the whole patient population in three distinct groups as low, intermediate, and high risk. When this score was applied to DLBC patients, a clear distinction in response rates and in OS could be demonstrated. Median disease-free survival (DFS) for patients that achieved CR was not reached, and DFS in 4 years was 83.0%. Our results show that the reduced OS observed could be explained by poor immune status with advanced stage of disease seen in our population of HIV-positive patients. Further studies will be needed to clarify the role of different treatment approaches for ARL in the setting of marked immunosuppression and to identify a group of patients to whom intensive therapy could be performed with a curative intent.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Section, Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, São Paulo, Brazil. pyt@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Paula Yurie
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Luis Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Pracchia
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellesso
authors.forename: Dalton Alencar Fischer
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chamone
authors.forename: Edenilson Eduardo
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Calore
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult