Resolution of AIDS-related Castleman's Disease with Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies is Associated with Declining IL-6 and TNF-alpha Levels

A 32-year-old HIV-1 positive man was diagnosed with Castleman's disease following a long history of constitutional symptoms. Primary therapy with single agent rituximab was associated with a near complete response. During this time, his KSHV (Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) viral load decreased and we also observed immediate, large and sustained decreases in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels (TNF-alpha). This highlights the close association between circulating cytokines such as IL-6 and virally-induced malignancy.