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Registry study: Lymphoma risk for patients with rheumatoid arthritis remains increased
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The risk for malignant lymphoma remained increased for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to recently published population-based data for 1997 to 2012.
Karin Hellgren, MD, PhD, at the Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, and colleagues identified 12,656 cases of incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that occurred between 1997 and 2012 in the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register. They matched each patient with 10 population controls.
Researchers found an increased risk for lymphoma (ratio = 1.6), with Hodgkin’s lymphoma occurring more frequently compared with the general population. The risk did not appear to decline with calendar years of RA diagnosis. In addition, neither methotrexate use nor tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) use in the first year after diagnosis increased the risk of lymphoma (ratio = 0.9). However, use of corticosteroids in the first year was associated with reduced risk (ratio = 0.5). Inflammatory activity in the first year did not have any effect. In addition, chronic lymphocytic leukemia occurred less frequently compared with the general population.
“The average lymphoma risk in recently diagnosed RA is similar in magnitude to that reported in historical cohorts,” the researchers wrote. “Standard antirheumatic treatment including TNFi did not predict future lymphoma risk. Distribution of lymphoma subtypes warrants further investigation.” – by Will Offit
Disclosures: Hellgren reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other relevant financial disclosures.
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