Factors associated with the occurrence of AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy: Aquitaine Cohort, France.

BACKGROUND

High grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) remains the most common Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-associated neoplasia and an important cause of mortality in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in industrialized countries in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

METHOD: A case-control study was implemented in a large cohort of HIV-infected patients. Case patients had newly diagnosed NHL, and control subjects were matched for CD4(+) cell count, calendar period, sex, and length of follow-up.

RESULTS

Variables associated with a decreased risk of NHL were the use of HAART during follow-up for at least 6 months (odds ratio [OR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21-0.98), receipt of a diagnosis of AIDS before the censoring date (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.18-0.76), and undetectable level of HIV RNA during follow-up (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.77). The use of antiherpetic drug for at least 6 months was associated with a nonsignificant decreased risk of NHL (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.11-1.44; P=.16). In multivariate analysis, variables significantly associated with a decreased risk of NHL were the use of HAART for at least 6 months during follow-up (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.16-0.87) and receipt of an AIDS-related diagnosis before the censoring date (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.21-0.93). Age, transmission group, hepatitis B and C coinfections, CD4(+) and CD8(+) cell count nadir, and previous history of herpes virus infection were not associated with an increased risk for NHL.

CONCLUSION

The use of HAART for at least 6 months was associated with a decreased risk of NHL, whereas uncontrolled HIV RNA load may be associated with an increased risk. The role of antiherpetic drugs needs further investigation.