HIV-associated Burkitt's lymphoma

The epidemiology of HIV-associated Burkitt's lymphoma remains poorly understood in Africa, despite the continent being the birthplace of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma. This 14-year study focused on patients aged 18 years and over who had Burkitt's lymphoma and were HIV-positive. Of 50 adult patients admitted to hospital for Burkitt's lymphoma, HIV testing was carried out on 21 patients, 11 of whom tested positive, representing a prevalence of 52.4 per cent. The mean age was 33.9 years ± 9.3; there was a predominance of female patients, with a sex ratio of 0.6. An abdominal-pelvic mass was the main reason for hospitalisation. The combination of ovarian and breast involvement was the most common. Murphy stage III was the most common. HIV-1 was common, associated with a history of opportunistic infection. Severe immunosuppression was common, with a CD4 count below 200 cells/mm³. The case-fatality rate was 72.7 per cent. Drug-related toxicity was the main cause of death.