Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas in Denmark: Report of three cases

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Abstract
High grade malignant non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma (NHL) was the presenting manifestation of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in 3/81 reported cases of AIDS in Denmark (by Arpil 2, 1986). Asymptomatic HIV infection, 1 and 5 yr prior to the onset of lymphoma, was documented in 2 cases. 1 patient became infected by Factor VIII treatment, 2 were male homosexuals, 2 patients had an uncommon tumour presentation in the oral cavity, 1 patient presented with an abdominal mass. The histologic subtypes were immunoblastic (2), and small noncleaved cell, Burkitt''s (1). Helper/suppressor T-cell ratio was decreased at onset of lymphoma in 2 cases. All 3 patients have died, 4, 6, and 24 months after diagnosis of NHL. Only 1 patient died of NHL, 1 died of an unclassified pneumonia and the third developed progressing supranuclear HIV-associated polyneuropathy without evidence of CNS lymphoma. Thus, high grade malignant B-cell NHL is a regular initial manifestation of AIDS, and may develop after years of asymptomatic HIV infection.