Clinical analysis of ten cases of HIV infection combined with acute leukemia

To summarize the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment experience of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection combined with acute leukemia.

Ten patients with HIV infection (eight males, two females; mean age of 40 years) were diagnosed with acute leukemia. Clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of these patients were retrospectively analyzed.

Among these ten patients, eight acute myeloid leukemia cases and two acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases were L3; three cases of M3 were positive for the promyelocytic leukemia and Vitamin A acid receptor alpha (PML/RARA) fusion genes, and four cases presented multiple chromosomal structural and numerical abnormalities. CD4+ T cell counts of the ten patients ranged from 84 to 389 cells/μL with a mean of 253.5 cells/μL. Among six patients who received chemotherapy, three cases were alive, two died of sepsis secondary to myelosuppression after chemotherapy, and one was lost to follow-up. Among four patients who did not receive chemotherapy, three died, one had M3 treatment and died with cerebral hemorrhage, and one was lost to follow-up. The maximum survival time was 74 months.

HIV combined with acute leukemia has a complex presentation and rapid progression, early diagnosis and timely initiation of standard chemotherapy along with active antiviral therapy can improve patient's survival.