A rapid progressive and fatal case of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in a newly diagnosed HIV patient

Background Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is one of the frequent and severe oncologic pathologies associated with HIV infection. Unlike in immunocompetent patients, this pathology manifests more aggressively in HIV-positive patients, frequently with severe systemic extranodal involvement, affecting the gastrointestinal tract, liver, bone marrow, central nervous system (CNS). Along extranodal involvement, the low level of CD4 at diagnosis, previous history of AIDS-defining illness, the NHL advanced stage, high LDH level and advanced age, are unfavorable prognostic factors for NHL associated with HIV infection.