title: Changes in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with low grade lymphoma in Germany: years 2006-2009.
abstract: Today's treatment options for indolent lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) range from watch & wait, immunochemotherapy up to allogeneic transplantation. We describe changes in the diagnosis and treatment of indolent lymphoma and CLL in Germany between 2006 and 2009. Two nation-wide surveys in the fourth quarter of 2006 and 2009 included patients with indolent lymphoma and CLL. Data from 576 patients from 46 centers in Q4/2006 were compared with data from 521 patients from 57 centers in Q4/2009. The subpopulation of patients ≥ 70 years of age and the number of patients with comorbidities increased from 39% to 55% and 47% to 55%, respectively. Both in indolent lymphoma and CLL, Rituximab and R-based immunochemotherapy (50.6% vs. 64.4%) as well as bendamustine (4.8 % vs. 24%) were much more frequently applied. In contrast, high dose chemotherapy consolidation was almost abandoned in first line treatment. Supportive care is given more frequently, with exception of erythropoietin and immunoglobulins. Our national survey confirmed that scientific results were rapidly transferred into clinical care of indolent lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilians University , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Guenter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fingerle-Rowson
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boehme
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brendel
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonnermann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Höhler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kegel
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kellermann
authors.forename: Arndt
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nusch
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pönisch
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wendtner
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dreyling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000069283:Rituximab; D000069461:Bendamustine Hydrochloride
keywords: Antibody-based immunotherapy; immunotherapy; infectious complications; lymphoid leukemia; lymphoma and Hodgkin disease; radiation