Increased cancer incidence in a Swedish cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the risk of cancer in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
A population-based cohort of 5 715 hospitalised SLE patients was followed 1964-1995 through linkage of the Hospital Discharge Register to the National Swedish Cancer Register.


RESULTS
In all, 443 malignancies occurred during the observation-period. The overall risk was increased by 25% (SIR= 1.25, CI 95% 1.14-1.37) and lymphomas constituted the major excess risk. The risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was nearly 3-fold increased (SIR = 2.86, CI 95% 1.96-4.04). There was also an increased risk of lung cancer (SIR= 1.73, CI 95% 1.25-2.32) and squamous cell skin cancer (SIR= 1.53, CI 95% 0.98-2.28), which was most pronounced at more than 15 years of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The major finding was a bimodal incidence pattern with an increased risk of lymphoma, mainly NHL, early during follow-up, but lung cancer and squamous skin cancer later on.
Rheumatology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Lena.Bjornadal@medks.ki.se
Lena
L
Björnådal
Björn
B
Löfström
Li
L
Yin
Ingrid E
IE
Lundberg
Anders
A
Ekbom
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology