title: Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of non Hodgkin's lymphoma in Bedouins in the south of Israel.
abstract: The presentation of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) may vary in relation to ethnicity or environmental effects. The objective of our study was to characterize NHL among the Negev Bedouin population, compared to the Jewish population. Retrospective data were collected for 45 Bedouin and 45 Jewish patients who were treated at Soroka University Medical Center between 1990 and 2007. Upon diagnosis, rates of aggressive NHL types, involvement of extra-lymphatic organs, as well as mean LDH were higher among Bedouin. Treatment response was poorer among the Bedouin: overall survival and disease-free survival were higher among Jews (mean of 145 and 168 months, respectively, compared with 70 and 45 months, respectively, among Bedouin; p < 0.01 for both). In summary, disease aggressiveness and poor response to treatment among the Negev Bedouin may shed some light on the pathogenicity of NHL and may indicate a need for more aggressive treatment in different ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Institute, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel ; Department of Hematology, Soroka University Medical Center, PO Box 151, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Itai
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feuchtwanger
authors.affiliation: Hematology Institute, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabinovich
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grotto
keywords: Bedouins; Epidemiology; Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma; Prognosis