[VEGF secretion from Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells as a cause of severe anasarca in a patient with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma].

A 69-year-old woman presented to National Defense Medical College hospital for suspected nephrotic syndrome due to weight gain of 30 kg in 3 weeks and bilateral lower leg edema. However, her urinalysis showed microproteinuria, which excluded nephrotic syndrome. Computed tomography revealed severe systemic edema, pleural effusion, ascites, and enlarged cervical and axillary lymph nodes. Histological examination of axillary lymph node specimen showed a typical architecture of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. One course of CHOP chemotherapy regimen was administered which improved the lymph nodes and systemic edema. The patient achieved complete remission after 6 courses of CHOP. Because serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level was elevated before the treatment and normalized after the treatment, increased vascular permeability mediated by VEGF was hypothesized to have caused the systemic edema. In addition, VEGF secretion from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected cells was likely associated with the patient's clinical condition because B lymphocytes stained with CD20 were positive for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) and VEGF.