CD8 expression on B cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a case report and review of the literature

The expression of CD8, a restricted T-cell antigen, on B cells in B chronic lymphocytic leukemia is rare, and its significance, if any, remains unknown. We report herein a patient with B chronic lymphocytic leukemia in whom CD8 was strongly expressed on all B cells, both in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. The patient required no therapy for 6 years after being diagnosed as having B chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Then, when the disease progressed, he was treated with conventional doses of fludarabine phosphate (25 mg/m(2) daily for 5 days), but unlike other patients with B chronic lymphocytic leukemia he tolerated this therapy poorly. He received a total of only 4 series of fludarabine therapy, and following each course of treatment, he developed considerable myelosuppression. After the fourth course of therapy, his bone marrow failed to show any evidence of regeneration, and he died as a result of intercurrent respiratory tract infection 1 month after his last dose of fludarabine was given.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

The development of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is unusual in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. We present four patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Immunophenotyping of lymph node tissue in three of these patients revealed a predominance of T-suppressor cells. Possible causes for the development of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in the presence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection are discussed.