title: Specific infections, infection-related behavior, and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults.
abstract: Infections were examined as possible risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a population-based case-control study in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Incident cases (n = 694) had no history of HIV infection or transplantation. Controls (n = 694) were randomly selected from electoral rolls and frequency matched to cases by age, sex, and area of residence. A postal questionnaire and telephone interview measured history of specific infections, occupational exposures, and behavioral and other risk factors for infection. Blood samples were tested for antibodies to human T-lymphotrophic virus type I and hepatitis C virus. Logistic regression models included the three matching variables and ethnicity. There was no association between risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and any of the variables analyzed, including sexually transmitted infections, sexual behavior, blood transfusions, influenza, acne, and either occupational or domestic exposure to zoonotic infections. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk was nonsignificantly elevated (odds ratio, 2.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-11.51) for those with a history of injecting drug use. Three cases and two controls (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-7.98) tested positive to hepatitis C virus infection and none tested positive to human T-lymphotrophic virus type I/II infection. This study provides consistent evidence that sexually transmitted infections and zoonoses are not risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Level 2/376 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia. cvajdic@nchecr.unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Vajdic
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Grulich
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kaldor
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fritschi
authors.forename: Geza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benke
authors.forename: Ann Maree
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kricker
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milliken
authors.forename: Bruce K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020958:Australian Capital Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018114:Lyssavirus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies