A Case of Plasmablastic Lymphoma Complicated with Pure Red Cell Aplasia Caused by T-cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia

Intern Med. 2024 Oct 18. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.4452-24. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is an aggressive subtype of large B-cell lymphoma associated with immunodeficient states, such as HIV and EBV infections, and aging. PBL frequently harbor STAT3 mutations, which are crucial for their development. We herein report a rare case of PBL complicated by T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL) and pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). The patient was treated with six cycles of chemotherapy and developed transfusion-dependent anemia. Large granular lymphocytes and T-cell receptor rearrangement were detected, thus leading to the diagnosis of T-LGLL and PRCA. This is the first documented case of PBL with T-LGLL and PRCA, offering insight into PBL's pathophysiology and the complications of PBL.

Keywords: T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia; plasmablastic lymphoma; pure red cell aplasia.