The clinical spectrum of disease severity is very broad. It ranges from gradual enlargement of lymph nodes with mild symptoms to sudden, intense onset of symptoms that can cause life-threatening organ dysfunction. Symptoms of Castleman disease often overlap with symptoms of many more common illnesses. A Castleman disease diagnosis can only be made with a lymph node biopsy that shows Castleman disease features. The diagnosis cannot be made by symptoms alone. Common symptoms, among others, include:
- Flu-like symptoms: fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting
- Unintended weight loss
- Weakness and fatigue
- Enlarged liver or spleen
- Peripheral neuropathy (numbness in the hands and feet)
- Cherry hemangiomas skin rash
- Edema (swelling), ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen), and/or other symptoms of fluid overload
- Kidney dysfunction
