Viral infection, atopy and mycosis fungoides: a European multicentre case-control study.
Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare disease with an unknown aetiology, although it has been suggested that infections may play a role. The present study investigates whether infections, atopic disorders and some other diseases are risk indicators for MF. A European multicentre case-control study involving seven rare cancers, including MF, was conducted from 1995 to 1998. Patients between 35 and 69 years of age diagnosed with MF (n = 140) were recruited, and the diagnoses were verified by a reference pathologist, who classified 83 cases as definitive and 35 cases as possible; 22 cases were not accepted. Of the 118 accepted cases, 104 patients were interviewed (including 76 definitive cases and 28 possible cases). These 76 definitive cases were used for this study. A common set of controls to serve all case groups were interviewed, representing a total of 4574 controls. The latter included 1008 colon cancer patients and 3566 subjects selected from population registers. Information on infections, skin pathology and clinical history 5 years before the diagnosis of MF was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) derived from logistic regression-modelling, which included gender, age and country. The highest ORs for MF were found in patients who reported a history of psoriasis 5 years before MF was diagnosed (OR 7.2, 95% CI: 3.6-14.5). Urticaria had an OR of 1.4 (95% CI: 0.6-3.6). Infections and atopic diseases were not closely associated with MF. Some diseases correlated to MF. Whether this has a causal background or reflects early diagnostic uncertainty is not known.
Morales
M M
MM
Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Valencia, Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Dr. Peset University Hospital, Valencia, Spain. maria.m.morales@uv.es
Olsen
J
J
Johansen
P
P
Kaerlev
L
L
Guénel
P
P
Arveux
P
P
Wingren
G
G
Hardell
L
L
Ahrens
W
W
Stang
A
A
Llopis
A
A
Merletti
F
F
Villanueva
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D035583:Rare Diseases; D012307:Risk Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications*