The biology of hiv-associated lymphomas

Abstract

There is a high incidence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in patients with impaired cell-mediated immunity, including patients with congenital immunodeficiency and iatrogenically immunosuppressed allogeneic transplant recipients. A significantly increased incidence of lymphoma has also been demonstrated in HIV infected patients and within this group the prevalence is rising. This rise reflects not only the increasing number of people infected with the HIV virus, but also their improved survival as a consequence of advances in antiretroviral therapy and the more effective management of opportunistic infections. The HIV-associated lymphomas (HAL) form two groups of different histology, prognosis and pathogenesis; the Burkitt’s lymphomas, and the diffuse large cell and immunoblastic lymphomas. This review will focus on the molecular biology of these lymphomas. © Macmillan Press Ltd., 1992.