The effect of atopy, childhood crowding, and other immune-related factors on non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk.
OBJECTIVE
Since adult immune responsiveness is influenced by early childhood exposures, we examined the role of family size, history of atopic disease, and other childhood immune-related exposures in a multi-center case-control study of NHL.


METHODS
Interviews were completed with 1,321 cases ascertained from population-based cancer registries in Seattle, Detroit, Los Angeles and Iowa, and with 1,057 frequency-matched controls, selected by random-digit dialing and from the Medicare files database. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate risk.


RESULTS
A history of any allergy (excluding drug allergies), decreased risk of all NHL (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.7, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.6-1.0), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [DLBCL] (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.9), and follicular NHL (OR = 0.7, 95 CI = 0.5, 1.0). A similar effect was observed for hay fever. A history of eczema was associated with an increased risk of follicular lymphoma (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.4), but not DLBCL (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.6-2.0). Asthma did not affect risk. Youngest compared to oldest siblings had a 90% increased risk of DLBCL (95% CI = 1.2-3.1; p for trend with increasing birth order = 0.006), but not follicular lymphoma (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.6-1.8).


CONCLUSIONS
We infer that some childhood and immune-related factors may alter NHL risk.
Cozen
W
W
Department of Preventive Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1441 Eastlake Ave, MC 9175, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9175, USA. wcozen@usc.edu
Cerhan
J R
JR
Martinez-Maza
O
O
Ward
M H
MH
Linet
M
M
Colt
J S
JS
Davis
S
S
Severson
R K
RK
Hartge
P
P
Bernstein
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications; D001722:Birth Order; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003441:Crowding; D004485:Eczema / Q000150:complications; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018426:SEER Program