ALK-negative T-cell anaplastic large cell lymphoma associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) appear to have an increased risk of developing malignancies, especially lymphomas. We report the development of a systemic ALK-negative T-cell anaplastic large cell lymphoma, stage IIB, in a 53-yr-old Caucasian female with a 12-yr history of stable SLE. The patient responded poorly to chemotherapy and died 2 yr after diagnosis. Lymphomas that develop in patients with SLE and other autoimmune diseases are virtually always of B-cell origin. To our knowledge this is the first report of a T-cell anaplastic large cell lymphoma in a patient with SLE. This article discusses the association of SLE and lymphoma, with an emphasis on T-lymphoproliferative states.