Primary effusion lymphoma in two HIV-negative patients successfully treated with pleurodesis as first-line therapy.
Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) mostly occurring in HIV-positive patients. It is characterized by the development of effusion in one or more body cavities, with no tumor masses and a positive human herpes virus-8 (HHV8) status. It has a poor survival profile and no optimal treatment is yet defined. We report two HIV-negative, HHV8-positive patients with PEL of the pleural cavity who achieved a durable remission after pleurodesis with bleomycin and no systemic therapy. We also perform a review of the relevant literature regarding the clinical data, treatment, and survival of PEL in HIV-negative patients.
Department of Haematology, Iatriko Athinon, Psychicon Branch, 1st Kyriakidou Str, P. Psychikon, 15452 Athens, Greece.
X
X
Yiakoumis
G A
GA
Pangalis
M-C
MC
Kyrtsonis
T P
TP
Vassilakopoulos
F N
FN
Kontopidou
C
C
Kalpadakis
P
P
Korkolopoulou
G
G
Levidou
A
A
Androulaki
M P
MP
Siakantaris
S
S
Sachanas
A
A
Andreopoulos
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D054685:Lymphoma, Primary Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D018700:Pleurodesis
D001761:Bleomycin