Intracavitary cidofovir for human herpes virus-8-associated primary effusion lymphoma in an HIV-negative patient.

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that mainly occurs in immunodeficient patients and is associated with infection by human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8). It develops in serous cavities, causing lymphomatous effusions in the absence of lymphadenopathy or organomegaly.1,2 Previous studies suggested that PEL occurs almost exclusively in HIVinfected patients. It was first described in association with Kaposi sarcoma.1,2 Subsequently, the authors of several studies demonstrated that PEL develops in non-AIDS patients with HHV-8 infection, suggesting that HHV-8 infection plays a key role in PEL.3 We report a rare case of HHV-8–positive PEL in an elderly, HIV-negative woman who presented with pleural effusion and was in clinical remission after intracavitary cidofovir. We also review the few recent reports of nonAIDS–related HHV-8–positive PEL.