HIV-associated multicentric Castleman’s disease

Abstract

Multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD) is a rare but potentially fatal lymphoproliferative disorder that shows a close association with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection. Interleukin-6 dysregulation is thought to be fundamental to its pathogenesis. MCD is characterized by recurrent flares with fever, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and heterogeneous systemic manifestations, associated with cytopenia, raised inflammatory markers, and high HHV-8 viral load in the blood. During the recent years, the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy and the introduction of rituximab have dramatically improved the treatment of HIV-MCD.