[HIV-associated lymphomas]

Abstract

Forty-one HIV-positive homosexual men (mean age 39.8 [23-72] years) with malignant lymphomas were examined with the object of exploring the clinical and pathological spectrum of HIV-associated lymphomas in Central Europe, and their therapeutic aspects. There were 33 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma of high malignancy and four with non-Hodgkin lymphoma of low malignancy; four further patients suffered from Hodgkin's disease. 27 patients died during the period of observation. The mean survival period after diagnosis was 5.5 months. It depended on the stage reached by the lymphoma at the time of diagnosis: 11.8 months in stage I, 10.6 months in stage II, 7 months in stage III, 3.3 months in stage IV and 1.3 months in patients with primary involvement of the central nervous system by the lymphoma. Eight out of nine patients with highly malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma in stage I or II attained complete and lasting remissions after chemotherapy or irradiation. However, only minimal prolongation of life was achieved in the 16 patients with lymphomas in stages III or IV. The response rate among all patients treated (complete and partial remissions) was 75%; 45% achieved complete remission. Hodgkin's disease responded well to standard therapy, but the disease rapidly recurred in every case.