Autoimmunity and susceptibility to Hodgkin lymphoma: a population-based case-control study in Scandinavia.
BACKGROUND
Personal history of autoimmune diseases is consistently associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In contrast, there are limited data on risk of Hodgkin lymphoma following autoimmune diseases and almost no data addressing whether there is a familial association between the conditions.


METHODS
Using population-based linked registry data from Sweden and Denmark, 32 separate autoimmune and related conditions were identified from hospital diagnoses in 7476 case subjects with Hodgkin lymphoma, 18,573 matched control subjects, and more than 86,000 first-degree relatives of case and control subjects. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as measures of relative risks for each condition using logistic regression and also applied multivariable hierarchical regression models. All P values are two-sided.


RESULTS
We found statistically significantly increased risks of Hodgkin lymphoma associated with personal histories of several autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.9 to 4.0), systemic lupus erythematosus (OR = 5.8, 95% CI = 2.2 to 15.1), sarcoidosis (OR = 14.1, 95% CI = 5.4 to 36.8), and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (OR = infinity, P = .002). A statistically significant increase in risk of Hodgkin lymphoma was associated with family histories of sarcoidosis (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.01 to 3.1) and ulcerative colitis (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.02 to 2.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Personal or family history of certain autoimmune conditions was strongly associated with increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma. The association between both personal and family histories of sarcoidosis and a statistically significantly increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma suggests shared susceptibility for these conditions.
Landgren
Ola
O
Genetic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7236, USA. landgreo@mail.nih.gov
Engels
Eric A
EA
Pfeiffer
Ruth M
RM
Gridley
Gloria
G
Mellemkjaer
Lene
L
Olsen
Jørgen H
JH
Kerstann
Kimberly F
KF
Wheeler
William
W
Hemminki
Kari
K
Linet
Martha S
MS
Goldin
Lynn R
LR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology