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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: The association of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and HIV infection is rare. Only eight cases had been reported of coexistence until 1990, and the association may be due to chance. HIV infection is associated with T cell immunodeficiency, however, and may contribute to the development of AML in such patients either due to defective T cell regulation of hemopoiesis and/or due to failure of immune surveillance. Previous reports have been from relatively high HIV prevalence areas. The authors report two cases of coexistent HIV infection and AML from a low HIV prevalence area found in routine screening for HIV. An 18-year-old male presented December 1991 with fever and fatigue, and a 70-year-old male presented February 1993 with cough and expectoration. Experience is limited in managing AML with coexistent HIV infection. Complete remissions have, however, been documented after low-dose cytosine arabinoside and intensive combination chemotherapy. The younger of the two patients received chemotherapy and tolerated it like HIV-negative AML patients, but succumbed to possible fungal pneumonia and intracerebral infection while in remission. The authors stress in closing that coexistent HIV infection in patients with AML may be overlooked especially in low HIV prevalence areas. Routine HIV screening of AML patients should be considered.
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