CD30 (KI-1)-POSITIVE ANAPLASTIC LARGE-CELL LYMPHOMAS IN 13 PATIENTS WITH AND 27 PATIENTS WITHOUT HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION - THE FIRST COMPARATIVE CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY FROM A SINGLE INSTITUTION THAT ALSO INCLUDES 80 PATIENTS WITH OTHER HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-RELATED SYSTEMIC LYMPHOMAS

Purpose: CD30 (Ki-1)-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (Ki-1 ALCL) rarely has been described in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The purpose of th is study was to characterize further the clinicopathologic features of Ki-1 ALCL in patients with HIV infection and, for the first time, to make a comparison with Ki-1 ALCL in patients without HIV infection. Patients and Methods: From September 1987 to April 1933, 93 patients with HIV infection and systemic nonHodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were treated at the Cancer Center of Aviano, Italy; in 13 (14%), the diagnosis was of Ki-1 ALCL subtype. This group of patients was compared with the remaining 80 patients who herd other HIV-related NHL and with another group of 27 patients with Ki-1 ALCL who were without a diagnosis of HIV infection. Results: There was no case of a T-cell phenotype in the 13 HIV-positive Ki-1 ALCL patients, whereas there was such a phenotype in six of 27 (22%) HIV-negative Ki-1 ALCL patients. In regard to the general characteristics of the two groups with Ki-1 ALCL, more patients with stage IV, two or more extranodal sites at presentation, treatment-related leukopenia, and opportunistic infections as the cause of death were observed in the HIV-positive Ki-1 ALCL group. When these variables were compared with those of the other HIV-related NHL group, such differences were not present. Conclusion: Ki-1 ALCL is not a rare clinicopathologic entity among NHL in patients with HIV infection. The differences observed within the two Ki-1 ALCL groups of patients may be because of factors related to the HIV infection alone.