Hodgkin's lymphoma risk factors
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sowminya Arikapudi, M.B,B.S. [2]
Overview
The risk factors in the development of Hodgkin's lymphoma are Epstein-Barr virus, family history, HIV infection. Other possible risk factors include genetics, infectious mononucleosis, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency, tobacco, and socio-economic status and family features.
Risk Factors
The risk factors in the development of Hodgkin's lymphoma are Epstein-Barr virus, family history, HIV infection. Other possible risk factors include genetics, infectious mononucleosis, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency, tobacco, and socio-economic status and family features.
| Risk factors | Possible risk factors |
|---|---|
| Epstein-Barr virus | Genetics |
| Family history | Infectious mononucleosis |
| HIV infection | Autoimmune diseases |
| Immunodeficiency | |
| Tobacco | |
| Socio-economic status and family features |
- Hodgkin lymphoma affects men slightly more often than women.
- There are 2 peaks of incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma:
- Younger adults (mid-teens through the 30s)
- Older adults (age 55 and older)
- Epstein-Barr virus
- A history of infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a risk factor for Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Infection with Epstein-Barr virus is common – more than 90% of adults worldwide are infected.
- In North America, Epstein-Barr virus is found in about 40%–50% of cases of Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Family history
- First-degree relatives of a person with Hodgkin lymphoma have an increased risk of developing the disease.
- Siblings of the same sex may have a greater risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma than people in the general population.
- It is unclear whether the increase in risk is due to genetics alone or a combination of genetics and environmental or lifetime exposures.
- HIV infection
- HIV infection increases a person’s risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma and some other types of cancer. The risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma is 10-times higher in people with HIV than in people who are HIV-negative.
Possible risk factors
- Genetics
- Although close relatives of people with Hodgkin lymphoma are at increased risk of the disease, the reasons for this higher risk are unknown. One explanation is that family members are exposed to the same environmental factors, which may be the reason why several people in a family develop Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Studies have shown that young adults who have had infectious mononucleosis are at 2-4 times greater risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma than those who have not had infectious mononucleosis. Experts are unsure whether infectious mononucleosis is an independent risk factor or a sign of infection with Epstein-Barr virus, which is a known risk factor.
- Autoimmune diseases
- People with certain autoimmune diseases have an increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma. These diseases include:
- Immunodeficiency
- People with poor immunity may have a higher risk for Hodgkin lymphoma. Poor immunity may be caused by conditions such as:
- Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
- Hypogammaglobulinemia
- Hyperimmunoglobulin M syndrome
- Congenital immunodeficiency
- Organ transplant or allogeneic bone marrow transplant
- Tobacco
- Studies suggest that current smokers have a higher risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma. They may also have an increased risk of tumors that contain the Epstein-Barr virus.
- Socio-economic status and family features
- Some researchers suggest that Hodgkin lymphoma in young adulthood through middle age may develop because of late infection with common childhood infections. Some people may develop these infections later because they were not exposed to these infections during childhood. This increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma is associated with the following factors:
- Higher social class
- Fewer siblings and playmates
- Early birth order
- Less crowded housing