title: Chronic inflammation and autoimmunity as risk factors for the development of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia?
abstract: In this study, we investigate if chronic inflammation and autoimmunity might be related to the development of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Conducting a case-control study, we included 112 CMML subjects diagnosed at three hematological departments in Denmark between 2003 and 2013. Controls were 231 unmatched chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) subjects diagnosed at one of the departments between 2003 and 2012. Subjects with a history of chronic inflammation or autoimmune disorders were retrieved and odds ratios (ORs) calculated. 16.1% of CMML subjects and 6.5% of CLL subjects presented with a history of chronic inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. This was significantly associated with an increased risk of CMML (adjusted OR 3.24, 95% CI: 1.5-7.0). At individual levels, this association was statistically significant for polymyalgia rheumatica and ITP (p values  < 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). We found an association of CMML and smoking status (OR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.06-1.90) with more "former smokers" in the CMML group.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology, Roskilde Hospital , University of Copenhagen , Roskilde , Denmark ;|b Department of Hematology, Roskilde Hospital , University of Copenhagen , Roskilde , Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette Vestergaard
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Elbæk
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology, Roskilde Hospital , University of Copenhagen , Roskilde , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Anders Lindholm
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology, Roskilde Hospital , University of Copenhagen , Roskilde , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Hans Carl
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hasselbalch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015551:Autoimmunity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015477:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
keywords: Chronic inflammation; MDS/MPN; autoimmune diseases; chronic myelomonocytic leukemia; smoking