Malignancies in HIV-infected patients: descriptive study of 129 cases between 1993 and 2010

The development of malignancies is a problem associated with HIV infection. The incidence and spectrum of malignancies has been modified with the addition of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and prognosis of HIV patients who have developed a malignancy. Retrospective observational study was conducted in HIV + patients who developed a malignancy between 1993-2010 in a referral hospital. AIDS-defining malignancies (ADN) and non-AIDS-defining malignancies (NADN) were compared. 125 patients were identified with at least one malignancy. The most frequent malignancies were: non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n; 39; 30.2%), Kaposi's sarcoma (n: 20; 15.5%), Hodgkin's disease (n: 11; 8.8%), lung cancer (n: 20; 15.5%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (n: 9; 6.9 %). The mean age was 42 ± 11 years, 84% male, 55.8% were coinfected with HBV and or HCV. The risk behaviors were: 45.6% intravenous drug users, 16.8% men who have sex with men and 20% heterosexuals). There were 67 (52%) NADN and 62 (48%) ADN; NADN patients had a longer story of HIV infection and longer exposure to HAART, better level of immunodeficiency and better virological control than ADN patients. Four patients developed a second malignancy. Overall survival was 34.7%. We found an increased incidence of NADN, appearing in patients with better virological and immunological control than ADN group. Mortality of patients with HIV infection and malignancy is still very high.