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Updated: Mar 22, 2026
Preparation and Use of HIV-1 Infected Primary CD4+ T-Cells as Target Cells in Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxic Assays
Published on: March 14, 2011
CD4-Positive T-Cell Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma in an HIV Positive Patient
Ali Nael1, Vighnesh Walavalkar1, William Wu2
1From Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA.
Objectives:
Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are predominantly B-cell lymphomas associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and rarely CD8-positive T-cell PCNSLs.
Methods:
Patient history, laboratory results, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), imaging, and brain biopsy specimens were reviewed and tested for T-cell receptor clonality.
Results:
A 64-year-old HIV-positive woman sought treatment for lethargy and left-sided weakness. Brain imaging showed regional increased T2 signal with restricted diffusion in cerebral hemispheres. CSF flow cytometry revealed CD4-positive T lymphocytes with loss of CD3, CD5, and CD7. EBV-positive T-cell lymphoma was immunohistochemically confirmed on brain biopsy specimens. Molecular analysis detected clonal T-cell receptor gene rearrangement. The patient received intrathecal methotrexate and whole-brain radiation. She did not respond to treatment and was eventually placed in hospice care.
Conclusions:
To our knowledge, this is the first report of CD4-positive T-cell PCNSL in an HIV-positive patient and will help to raise clinical awareness of this previously unknown entity.
