Epstein Barr virus associated Hodgkin's disease in a HIV-positive child presenting with a hemophagocytic syndrome

PRECIADO, M. V.; DE MATTEO, E; FALLO, A.; PAOLA ANDREA CHABAY; DRELICHMAN, G.; GRINSTEIN, S.

Leukemia and Lymphoma

Infoma world

Año: 2001 vol. 42 p. 231 - 234

1042-8194

An 8-years-old boy was admitted at our hospital with fever of unknown origin, cervical lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly and weight loss. His mother´s HIV infection was diagnosed two weeks before his hospitalization, so he was diagnosed as perinatally acquired AIDS. Serology and serial cultures were negative for viral infections, toxoplasmosis, chagas, tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterium. The patient met clinical and laboratory criteria for hemophagocytic syndrome (HS) that was confirmed on bone marrow aspirate and biopsy. A cervical lymph node biopsy was performed which was diagnosed as Hodgkin´s disease (HD) diffuse fibrosis lymphocyte depletion subtype. EBERs in situ hybridization and LMP-1 immunohistochemistry on the lymph node biopsy established the EBV association. On the basis of sequence of appearance of the clinical, laboratory and histological signs, HIV, EBV or HD might trigger HS as the last event  in this pediatric patient. who died on 30 hospital day.