HIV-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (HIV-TTP): A practical guide and review of the literature.

Background: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a serious thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), is prevalent in the South African HIV-infected population. The exact pathogenesis of HIV-associated TTP (HIV-TTP) is however still unclear with diagnostic and therapeutic inconsistancies.

Methods: A systematic review of the published literature regarding HIV-TTP was performed.

An Expanded Spectrum of High-Grade B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas Involving the Cervicovaginal Region.

The uterine cervix and vaginal regions are infrequently infiltrated by lymphoma. Involvement of these topographic regions may constitute primary disease or more commonly represent a manifestation of systemic lymphomatous disease. Herein, we report an expanded spectrum of high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas comprising plasmablastic lymphoma (with and without plasmacytic differentiation), ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma which involved the uterine cervix and/or vagina of 6 patients at initial diagnosis.

Changing pattern of lymphoma subgroups at a tertiary academic complex in a high-prevalence HIV setting: a South African perspective.

Background: HIV infection has been associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, particularly in the first world. Despite the high burden of HIV infection in sub-Saharan regions, published data on HIV and malignancies are sparse from these areas.

Materials And Methods: We recently published data on lymphomas diagnosed from January 2004 to December 2006, at a single center in Johannesburg, to serve as a baseline for long-term comparison during the period of highly active antiretroviral therapy rollout.

Characterization of Lymphomas in a high prevalence HIV setting.

Background: HIV infection has been associated with an increased risk of malignancy, both AIDS defining and non-AIDS defining.

Methods: This study presents a detailed pathological description of newly diagnosed lymphomas in Johannesburg, South Africa (January 2004 and December 2006). The review coincides with introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy.