Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma with an unusual proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus-associated large B cells arising in a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis.

We report an unusual case of angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma arising in the setting of 5 years of immunosuppressive treatment for progressive systemic sclerosis. The lymph node lesion was accompanied by large blastic B cells with an association of Epstein-Barr virus. Southern blot study demonstrated the clonal rearrangement of T cell receptor beta-chain gene, but not of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene. Phenotypical examination of the lymph node also revealed the predominance of CD4+ T cells in addition to the proliferation of follicular dendritic cells, but no light chain restriction in large B cell components. In the clinical and laboratory aspects, neutrophilia (15.8 x 10(9)/l) and plasmacytosis (40%) in bone marrow were noted, which were considered to be closely related to elevated serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-6. Based on the combined data described here, our preferred diagnosis was angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma with Epstein-Barr virus-associated B cell lymphoproliferative disorder, the pathogenesis of which was suggested to be closely associated with immunosuppressive treatment for progressive systemic sclerosis. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.