Angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy. A report of 3 cases.

Angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AILD) was diagnosed in 3 Black patients, AILD is a non-malignant disorder which resembles a malignant lymphoma clinically and morphologically. It is thought to represent an abnormal response of B lymphocytes to antigenic stimuli which are often therapeutic agents. The disorder usually affects adults of the older age group and the clinical course can be rapidly fatal, particularly if vigorous chemotherapy is given. Of the 3 patients with AILD, 2 died from complicating infections within 6 months after the initial diagnosis. The third patient was completely cured after short courses of prednisone and vincristine. It appears that in some patients the disorder may be completely reversible but whether these patients are at a greater risk of eventually developing a lymphoma is uncertain at the present time, and remains to be ascertained by their long-term follow-up.