Elevated B cell stimulatory cytokines preceding lymphoma in subjects with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) followed by non-Hodgkin’s B cell lymphoma

4323 Persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are at increased risk of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated non-Hodgkin’s B cell lymphoma (AIDS-NHL). Chronic B cell hyperactivation due to HIV infection and/or disease progression is thought to contribute to this increased risk. Lymphoma can be the initial AIDS-defining condition, but frequently occurs subsequent to some other AIDS-defining condition. In AIDS-NHL cases that follow another AIDS-defining condition, the extent of B cell activation observed prior to the lymphoma diagnosis may be impacted by the prior AIDS diagnosis. In a nested case-control study utilizing samples from participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, we assessed serum levels of several B cell stimulatory cytokines and molecules associated with B cell activation. Cases (AIDS+NHL, n=99) were participants who developed AIDS-NHL subsequent to another, non-lymphoma AIDS diagnosis; controls (AIDS, n=99) were participants who developed AIDS, but not lymphoma, matched to cases on time of AIDS diagnosis. Levels of interleukin (IL) 6, IL10, soluble CD23 (sCD23), sCD27, sCD30, C’-reactive protein (CRP), and total IgE were quantified in matched longitudinal serum samples collected at up to three time points prior to lymphoma diagnosis of the case (3-5 years, 1-3 years, and