BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Blood transfusion has been shown to be a risk factor for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cohort of 77,928 women with bleeding complications at delivery in the period of 1973-1986, subsequent NHL cases were identified and the number was compared with the number expected from national incidence rates. In a case-control study the proportion of transfused NHL cases was compared with the proportion of transfused controls. RESULTS: The observed number of NHL in the cohort was 18 versus 22.0 expected. Information on transfusion was obtained for 15 of the NHL cases and none (0%) was transfused versus 32 out of 136 controls (23%). CONCLUSIONS: Blood transfusion at delivery is not a risk factor for NHL. The immune tolerance induced by pregnancy may reduce the risk of NHL associated with the transfusion of allogeneic blood cells.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Blood transfusion has been shown to be a risk factor for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cohort of 77,928 women with bleeding complications at delivery in the period of 1973-1986, subsequent NHL cases were identified and the number was compared with the number expected from national incidence rates. In a case-control study the proportion of transfused NHL cases was compared with the proportion of transfused controls. RESULTS: The observed number of NHL in the cohort was 18 versus 22.0 expected. Information on transfusion was obtained for 15 of the NHL cases and none (0%) was transfused versus 32 out of 136 controls (23%). CONCLUSIONS: Blood transfusion at delivery is not a risk factor for NHL. The immune tolerance induced by pregnancy may reduce the risk of NHL associated with the transfusion of allogeneic blood cells.
Authors: James R Cerhan; Eric A Engels; Wendy Cozen; Scott Davis; Richard K Severson; Lindsay M Morton; Gloria Gridley; Patricia Hartge; Martha Linet Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2008-08-15 Impact factor: 7.396