Long-term complications in Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors

Tumori. 2012 Sep-Oct;98(5):601-6. doi: 10.1177/030089161209800510.

Abstract

Background. Although patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) achieve prolonged survival, long-term complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among long-term survivors of HL. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated long-term complications in 336 HL survivors treated between January 1990 and January 2006 at the Department of Medical Oncology of the Hacettepe University Institute of Oncology who were >16 years old at presentation. All patients were regularly followed up every 3 months for the first 2 years after complete response, biannually for 3 years, and annually after 5 years. Results. Median follow-up was 8.5 years. The mean age (±SD) of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 35.7 ± 13.1 years. The male to female ratio was 61%/39%. During follow-up, 29 second malignancies (8.6%) were diagnosed in 28 patients with HL; 22 were solid tumors and 7 were hematological malignancies. Forty-seven (14.0%) of all patients with HL were found to have thyroid abnormalities. During follow-up, 54 (16.1%) patients developed cardiovascular complications. Overall, 29 (8.6%) patients developed late pulmonary toxicities. The cumulative number of chronic viral infections was 13 (3.9%). Conclusions. Long-term survivors of HL need to be properly followed up not only for disease control but also for evaluation of possible late morbidities to minimize the consequences.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anthracyclines / administration & dosage
  • Anthracyclines / adverse effects
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / adverse effects*
  • Bleomycin / adverse effects
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cardiovascular System / drug effects
  • Cardiovascular System / radiation effects
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / adverse effects
  • Doxorubicin / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hodgkin Disease / complications
  • Hodgkin Disease / epidemiology
  • Hodgkin Disease / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / epidemiology*
  • Hypothyroidism / etiology
  • Lung Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Lung Diseases / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / epidemiology*
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / etiology
  • Prevalence
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / adverse effects
  • Respiratory System / drug effects
  • Respiratory System / radiation effects
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Survivors / statistics & numerical data*
  • Time Factors
  • Turkey / epidemiology
  • Virus Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Virus Diseases / etiology

Substances

  • Anthracyclines
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Bleomycin
  • Doxorubicin