Treatment of B-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders with Interferon Alfa and Intravenous Gamma Globulin

To the Editor: Immunodeficiency predisposes patients to B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (BLPD), which are frequently associated with the Epstein–Barr virus, are often fatal,^{1 2} and are resistant to conventional therapy with irradiation, chemotherapy, and antiviral agents.³⁴ In immunocompromised hosts, BLPD ranges histologically from polymorphic B-cell hyperplasia to immunoblastic sarcoma. These disorders differ in both cause and biologic features from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma arising in immunocompetent patients.⁵ Whether polyclonal or monoclonal, all are clinically aggressive and may result in death from organ failure due to infiltration by rapidly dividing cells. We recently observed dramatic responses in five patients with BLPD treated with interferon alfa.