Lymphomas associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS): a study of 35 cases

An increased incidence of lymphoid neoplasias is associated with the states of immune deficiency both congenital and acquired. Thirty-five cases of lymphoma in males at high risk for AIDS were diagnosed in one community hospital in New York City within the past 2 years. The mean age of these patients was 39.6 years; 34 were homosexual, and one was an intravenous drug abuser. There were four Hodgkin and 31 non-Hodgkin lymphomas of various histologic types but almost all of high-grade categories. The proportion of extranodal lymphomas, the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, bone marrow, and myocardium were significantly higher than in the lymphomas of the general population. The phenotypes were B-cell and non-B-non-T-cell types without any T-cell lymphomas. All patients had reversed helper-suppressor T-cell ratios, and all those tested had circulating HTLV-III and antilymphocyte antibodies. Nine patients have had previous lymph node biopsies showing the lesions of AIDS-related lymphadenopathies that were often directly associated with lymphoma. A variety of severe opportunistic infections and Kaposi sarcoma affected these patients. All lymphomas associated with immune deficiency were highly aggressive, involved multiple organs, and responded poorly to treatment resulting in early deaths.