A successful initiation of treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma with adriamycin-bleomycin-vinblastine-dacarbazine dose reduction in a patient with fulminant hepatic failure and co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B

Abstract

Introduction

Hodgkin lymphoma is a highly curable lymphoproliferative malignancy with an overall relative survival rate of 87.4%. It is characterized by multinucleated Reed–Sternberg cells which are mostly derived from B cells in the germinal center.

Case report

We present a case of a 40-year-old gentleman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with Stage 4b Hodgkin lymphoma complicated with fulminant hepatic failure and direct hyperbilirubinemia. The initial presentation of Hodgkin lymphoma as cholestatic jaundice is extremely rare.

Management and outcome

Though the survival rate with chemotherapy is high, the fulminant hepatic failure made the situation challenging with the use of chemotherapeutic regimens that require hepatic excretion. He received dose reduced adriamycin-bleomycin-vinblastine-dacarbazine regimen [doxorubicin 12.5 mg (6.75 mg/m²), bleomycin 18 units (10 units/m²), vinblastine 3 mg (1.5 mg/m²), dacarbazine 380 mg (190 mg/m²)] as well as bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide since admission for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B. He started responding with the first cycle of dose reduced adriamycin-bleomycin-vinblastine-dacarbazine regimen with bilirubin levels trended down and normalized as well as his clinical condition improved. He received the full dose of adriamycin-bleomycin-vinblastine-dacarbazine on day 15.

Discussion

Our case report emphasizes that the early usage of dose reduced adriamycin-bleomycin-vinblastine-dacarbazine regimen can restore hepatic function and can achieve improvement in hepatic function allowing the delivery of full-dose chemotherapy.