title: Prevalence and Pattern of Autoimmune Conditions in Patients with Marginal Zone Lymphoma: A Single Institution Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased risk of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in patients with autoimmune diseases is a known fact. An association may exist between marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and certain autoimmune conditions and vice-versa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herein, we present the analysis of a series of consecutive patients (n = 24) diagnosed with MZL at our institution between 2008-2014. Our series, analyzed both retrospectively and prospectively, consisted of a blend of nodal, extranodal and splenic MZL. The median age was 71.8 years; M/F ratio was 2:1. The presence of autoimmune conditions was compared to their documented prevalence in the general population and tested for statistical significance using both chi-square test (χ2) and Fisher test for small number of observations (95% confidence). A P-value < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 50% of MZL patients had documented autoimmune conditions. In addition, 3 of 24 patients presented with more than one autoimmune disease. Statistically significant differences in our MZL patients were recorded for immune thrombocytopenia [ITP] (P < 0.01), autoimmune hemolytic anemia [AIHA] (P < 0.01), Hashimoto thyroiditis (P = 0.037) and rheumatoid arthritis [RA] (P = 0.021). The difference did not reach statistical significance for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriasis. ITP and AIHA in our cohort were synchronous with MZL diagnosis in all patients, while all non-hematologic autoimmune conditions were metachronous and diagnosed prior to MZL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the course of caring for patients with MZL, a number of associated autoimmune disorders are recognized. Knowing these entities is important not only for making a correct diagnosis, but also for being able to recognize certain clinical events occurring during the course of the disease. A catalogue of autoimmune disorders associated with this type of NHL is important as they can pose formidable clinical problems for the MZL patients and their physicians.
authors.forename: Constantin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dasanu
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bockorny
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grabska
authors.forename: Ion
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Codreanu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies