Giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease) of the mesentery. Observations on the associated anemia.

A mesenteric mass, histologically characterized as giant lymph node hyperplasia was found in an 18-yr-old man with at least 11 yr of growth retardation and anemia. The anemia was characterized by iron deficiency from selective malabsorption of iron, and by features of the anemia of chronic disorders. In contrast with a previous report, no inhibitor of erythropoietin was found and there was no abnormality of erythropoietin secretion. Resection of the mass was followed by rapid correction of the anemia and catch-up growth. The mass had histologic features of the hyaline vascular and plasma cell types of Castleman's disease with multinucleate giant cells probably of macrophage origin. Immunologic studies of the mass showed that the B lymphocytes were polyclonal and the T lymphocyte helper/suppressor cell ratio was normal, suggesting that giant lymph node hyperplasia is a local inflammatory reaction.