Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia: report of a case in infancy with review of literature

Abstract

A case of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) in infancy is reported. The disease had a mild onset with generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, and T-cell deficiency. The AILD course lasted more than 100 months, alternating clinical remission to recurrent relapses. Hepatitis B viral infection suddenly evolving to hepatic failure was the cause of death. From a rapid survey of the present knowledge, the nosology, immunological features, and therapy of AILD are discussed and a possible presumptive pathogenetic pathway is proposed.