The effect of methotrexate and anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy on the risk of lymphoma in rheumatoid arthritis in 19,562 patients during 89,710 person-years of observation

Arthritis Rheum. 2007 May;56(5):1433-9. doi: 10.1002/art.22579.

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the relationship between anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy, methotrexate (MTX), and the risk of lymphoma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This report updates our previous report during 29,314 person-years of followup.

Methods: Participants in the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) longitudinal study of long-term outcomes of RA completed semiannual questionnaires from 1998 through 2005, during 89,710 person-years of followup. Lymphoma reports were validated by medical records. The association between lymphoma and treatment was investigated using conditional logistic regression, adjusted for severity and demographic covariates.

Results: Of the 19,591 participants, 55.3% received biologic agents and 68.0% received MTX while enrolled in the NDB. The lymphoma incidence rate was 105.9 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 86.6-129.5) per 100,000 person-years of exposure. Compared with the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results) lymphoma database, the standardized incidence ratio was 1.8 (95% CI 1.5-2.2). The odds ratio (OR) for lymphoma in patients who received anti-TNF therapy compared with patients who did not receive anti-TNF therapy was 1.0 (95% CI 0.6-1.8 [P = 0.875]). The OR for lymphoma in patients who received anti-TNF plus MTX therapy compared with patients who received MTX treatment alone was 1.1 (95% CI 0.6-2.0 [P = 0.710]). Infliximab and etanercept considered individually also were not associated with a risk of lymphoma.

Conclusion: In a study of lymphoma in 19,591 RA patients over 89,710 person-years of followup, which included exposure to anti-TNF therapy in 10,815 patients, we did not observe evidence for an increase in the incidence of lymphoma among patients who received anti-TNF therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Logistic Models
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Lymphoma / chemically induced
  • Lymphoma / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / adverse effects*
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Risk Factors
  • SEER Program
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Methotrexate