Long-term complete regression of nodal marginal zone lymphoma transformed into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with highly active antiretroviral therapy alone in human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Since the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), there has been a decrease in the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among the HIV-infected population and also significantly improved survival rates. We describe a remarkable case of a HIV-infected patient whose large B-cell lymphoma, most likely arising by transformation of a nodal marginal zone lymphoma, completely regressed with the use of cART alone. He remained disease-free for almost 3 years and he finally died from presumed flare up of his lymphoma. There are very few cases of spontaneous regression of lymphomas with cART alone in the HIV population. This is an extreme example of the significance of cART in improving survival in HIV-non-Hodgkin lymphoma and changing the face of the HIV epidemic in general.
Baraboutis
Ioannis G
IG
Infectious Diseases & HIV Division, 5th Department of Internal Medicine, Evaggelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece. ioannisbaraboutis@yahoo.gr
Marinos
Leonidas
L
Lekakis
Lazaros J
LJ
Papastamopoulos
Vasilios
V
Georgiou
Ourania
O
Tsagalou
Eleftheria P
EP
Rondogianni
Phoeve
P
Apostolidis
John
J
Papadaki
Theodora
T
Skoutelis
Athanasios T
AT
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D006801:Humans; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors