[Primary CNS lymphoma in azathioprine therapy for autoimmune diseases: review of the literature and case report].

Abstract

We present a 31-year-old female patient with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the CNS after immunosuppressive therapy. Colitis ulcerosa had been diagnosed 2 years previously. Prophylactic therapy with azathioprine over 9 months was stopped after the development of listeria meningitis which was treated successfully with antibiotics. At this time native CCT was normal. Three months later the patient developed an epileptic seizure and multiple cerebral lesions were detected in CCT and MRI. Although antibiotic therapy was started, the cerebral lesions showed no regression. Stereotactic biopsy revealed immunochemical and histologic high-grade malignant B cell lymphoma. The risk of primary CNS lymphoma under azathioprine treatment for an autoimmune disease with a possible congenital immunodeficiency is presented and the literature is reviewed.

• Authors: F Kästner, W Paulus, M Deckert, P Schlegel, S Evers, I W Husstedt
• Journal: Der Nervenarzt (Nervenarzt) Vol. 78 Issue 4 Pg. 451-6 (Apr 2007) ISSN: 0028-2804 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Primäres ZNS-Lymphom während der Behandlung von Autoimmunerkrankungen mit Azathioprin. Kasuistik und Literaturübersicht.
• PMID: 17375274 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Azathioprine

Topics

• Adult
• Autoimmune Diseases (drug therapy)
• Azathioprine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Brain Neoplasms (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Colitis, Ulcerative (complications, drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin (chemically induced, diagnosis)