The diffuse large B-cell lymphoma disease profile at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital from July 2020 to June 2022

Abstract

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the most common non- Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) in adults, and there is limited clinical data available for patients treated in low-resource settings with a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection burden.
Aim: This article describes the disease burden, clinical presentation and treatment outcomes for DLBCL.
Setting: The study was conducted at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH).
Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed 58 hospital treatment records of patients with DLBCL treated at CMJAH Medical Oncology Clinic from July 2020 to June 2022.
Results: The study had 37 (63.8%) male patients and 21 (36.2%) female patients. The median age was 48 and 49 years for male patients and female patients, respectively, with 44 (75.9%) patients being HIV-positive. Most, 43 (74.1%), received Rituximab with Cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin hydrochloride, oncovin and prednisone (R-CHOP) as first-line therapy. Overall survival was 78.2% at year one and 53.1% by year three post-treatment. In the HIV-positive population, the survival was 78.3% at year one and 51.6% at year three.
Conclusion: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma occurs in a younger population group than previously described. Those with HIV infection are significantly more likely to present with advanced disease and poor overall outcomes.
Contribution: The increasing data on DLBCL in South Africa provide insights that could potentially improve outcomes for this disease.