Anemia of cancer in intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
Current literature suggests that anemia at baseline is an important adverse prognostic factor for lymphoma-related outcomes. We evaluated the prevalence, risk factors, and prognostic value of anemia in patients with intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (IGNHL) treated in a community-based practice.


METHODS
The retrospective sample included 591 patients who had IGNHL diagnosed between 1993 and 1999 and who were subsequently treated with CHOP chemotherapy. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) value < 12 g/dL.


RESULTS
Anemia was present in 193 of 546 patients (35.3%). Baseline anemia was significantly associated with age > 60, extranodal sites > or = 2, Ann Arbor stage III or IV, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, B symptoms, and histology type. Baseline Hb was also a significant predictor of nonresponse to chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study results support previous findings of a high prevalence of anemia in cancer patients before cytotoxic therapy and the adverse impact that baseline anemia has on response to chemotherapy.
One Health Plan, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Thomas J
TJ
Morrow
Salvatore
S
Volpe
Sanjay
S
Gupta
Rima E
RE
Tannous
Moshe
M
Fridman
D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003153:Community Health Services; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone