CD3(+) CD8(+) CD56(-) clonal large granular lymphocyte leukaemia and HIV infection

High-grade malignant lymphomas associated with HN infection are usually derived from B lymphocytes. Although a broad spectrum of T-cell-derived malignancies has been described, no case of monoclonal T large granular lymphocyte leukaemia has been reported to date. We report a case of clonal T-LGL (CD3(+), CD4(-), CD8(+), CD56(-), CD57(+)) in an HIV-infected, HTLV1/2-negative individual. Large granular lymphocytes are thought to represent activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. HIV infection, as previously reported for HTLV1/2, may represent a pathway of antigen activation and lead to clonal expansion of T large granular lymphocytes.