Prednisone in treatment of allergen-associated angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy

Angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinaemia (A.I.L.D.) is a lymphoproliferative disorder associated in one third of the patients with exposure to an allergen. In four patients with allergen-associated A.I.L.D. single cytotoxic drugs were ineffective but maintenance low-dose prednisone for 6--12 months induced complete remission for up to 13 years. In contrast, three patients with non-allergen-associated A.I.L.D. did not respond to prednisone but achieved remission with combination chemotherapy.