Impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy in the treatment of HIV-infected patients with systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Baiocchi, O.C.G.; Colleoni, G.W.B.; Navajas, E.V.; Duarte, L.Claudio.C.; Alves, A.C.; Andrade, A.Lucia.S.S.; Kerbauy, J.; Oliveira, J.Salvador.R.
Acta Oncologica 41(2): 192-196
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0284-186X PMID: 12102166 DOI: 10.1080/028418602753669599Document Number: 264915
Twenty cases of systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in HIV-infected patients were reviewed over a 10-year-period, divided into Group A, including 13 NHL cases treated before the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era, and Group B, including 7 patients who received HAART. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was performed and log-rank was applied to assess statistical differences between the groups. In group A, the median CD4 count was 36 cells/mm3. No complete remission was found. In group B, the median CD4 count was 137 cells/mm3. Four patients (57.0%) are still alive and in complete remission. Group A had a median survival of 5 months and group B 31 months (p = 0.0032). Our results are in agreement with recent reports in that a higher CD4 count and better immune status achieved with HAART is predictive of a better outcome. We found that HAART in combination with chemotherapy improves overall survival of NHL patients without increasing adverse effects.