Primary effusion lymphoma is a rare high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection, and is mostly observed in the course of HIV infection (AIDS). The prognosis is poor, with reported median survival time shorter than 6 months. We present a case of a 65-year-old man, with prior unknown origin chronic hepatopathy, chronic hemolytic anaemia, and ascites. Biopsy of peritoneum showed a primary effusion lymphoma. The patient died two months later.