Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
An epidemiological approach to the etiology of Hodgkin's disease.
Diss Abstr Int [C]; 54(2):506 1993. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/94696103 Merk KF; Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Abstract:
In focus of this thesis were factors of potential importance for the development and outcome of Hodgkin's disease (HD), especially the cause of the immunodeficiency (ID) and its relation to HD. The epidemiological features of HD in Cuba and Sweden were studied. A bimodal age-specific incidence pattern was seen in Sweden while in Cuba a shift from an unimodal to a bimodal pattern was recorded. This change was paralleled by the Cuban development from an agricultural to a more industrialized country. The data support the hypothesis of an intermediate incidence pattern in HD preceding that seen in highly developed countries. In order to test the hypothesis of a causal relationship between blood donation and development of HD and other tumors, the incidence of cancer among 37,795 blood donors was studied. The total number of malignancies was lower than that expected. No increased risk of HD was found. Blood donors may lead a more healthy life than the rest of the population explaining at least in part their lower cancer incidence. Lymphocyte functions and T cell counts and subpopulations were related to clinical characteristics and prognosis in 262 HD patients. Patients with an increased spontaneous and decreased Concanavalin A induced blood lymphocyte DNA synthesis had a poor prognosis. In multivariate analysis lymphocyte function was the strongest prognostic factor besides age. To study the possible existence of genetic/environmental factors contributing to the ID associated with HD consanguineous and non-consanguineous relatives to consecutive patients with HD were studied. Blood lymphocyte abnormalities were found in 32% consanguineous and 17% non-consanguineous healthy relatives as compared to 16% healthy controls supporting the concept of genetic factors contributing to the ID in HD. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serology was studied in untreated HD patients and related to clinical characteristics. An elevated antibody titer to virus capsid antigen (VCA [IgG]) was observed. Patients with advanced and relapsing disease had higher titers to VCA (IgG) and EBNA as compared to patients with limited disease and those who remained in complete remission. EBV serology during the course of disease revealed continuously elevated anti-VCA (IgG) titers. (Not available from University Microfilms Int'l.)
Keywords: Antibodies, Viral/ANALYSIS Antigens, Viral/ANALYSIS Blood Donors Cuba/EPIDEMIOLOGY DNA-Binding Proteins/ANALYSIS DNA, Neoplasm/BIOSYNTHESIS Herpesvirus 4, Human/IMMUNOLOGY Hodgkin's Disease/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*ETIOLOGY/GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY Human Leukocyte Count Sweden/EPIDEMIOLOGY T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY/PATHOLOGY THESIS
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
