[Angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia. Apropos of 5 cases]

Abstract

Angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathies with dysproteinemia represent a new entity characterised clinically by superficial lymphadenopathy splenomegaly more frequent than hepatomegaly, marked general signs and skin manifestations often triggered off by drugs. The laboratory disturbances include immue disorders, polyclonal dysproteinemia, anti-red cell autoimmunity. It is above all the histology which makes this entity original: polymorphic cellular proliferation with immunoblasts, plasmablasts and plasma cell disturbing the normal lymph node architecutre, intense vascular neogenesis and deposits of extra-cellular amorphous substances. This histology corresponds to a non-sarcomatous lymph node hyperplasia, probably due to a deficit in T suppressive function on the production of antibodies.