The Association of Immune Disease and Malignant Lymphoma

Abstract

Clinical and serological features were studied in 17 patients with immune disease and malignant lymphoma to determine if there was a pattern in the association of these 2 diseases. In addition a statistical study was done of the prevalence of diffuse connective tissue disease and hemolytic anemia in 12,183 patients with solid tumors and malignant lymphomas. The immune disease in the 17 cases included systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, dermatomyositis, Sjogren''s syndrome, vasculitis, ataxia-telangiectasia, nephrotic syndrome and cold agglutinin disease. (These were referred to as immune diseases in the sense that they may have an immunologic etiology or an associated immune disturbance.) With 1 exception, all patients had normal or elevated serum gamma globulin levels. Three patients had spiked elevations of gamma globulin; in the remainder, the elevation was diffuse. The cases were divided into 3 groups: those in which both diseases occurred simultaneously; those in which 1 process preceded the other; and a 3rd group, those in which immune disease simulated malignant lymphoma. There was no pattern in the onset, course or effect of treatment of the disease to indicate that 1 process influenced the other. The same patient may be susceptible to both diseases. In patients with solid tumors 0.58% had diffuse connective tissue disease and 0.11% had hemolytic anemia. In malignant lymphoma patients 1.86% had diffuse connective tissue disease and 4.93% had hemolytic anemia. The differences between the solid tumor and malignant lymphoma groups was statistically significant.