Researchers have revealed that several autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are associated with increased risks for myeloid malignancies.
“Autoimmune conditions are associated with an elevated risk for lymphoproliferative malignancies, but few studies have investigated the risk for myeloid malignancies,” note Lesley Anderson (Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland) and colleagues.
To examine this relationship, Anderson and team selected 13,486 myeloid malignancy patients (aged 67 years or older) and 160,086 population-based controls from the US Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database.
The researchers also searched hospital, physician and outpatient Medicare claims to assess whether the patients had a preceding autoimmune condition. They then used adjusted logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for myeloid malignancies in relation to each autoimmune condition.
Given the large number of comparisons, the team focused on associations that were significant at a p-value provided by the Bonferroni method (p<0.0005).
Of the 13,486 patients identified, 58% had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 16% chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 18% myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and 8% myeloproliferative disorders (MPD).
Writing in the British Journal of Cancer, Anderson and co-authors report that autoimmune conditions, overall, were associated with a 29% increased risk for AML and a 50% increased risk for myelodysplastic MDS.
Specifically, AML was associated with RA (OR=1.28), systemic lupus erythematosus (OR=1.92), polymyalgia rheumatica (OR=1.73), autoimmune haemolytic anemia (OR=3.74), systemic vasculitis (OR=6.23), ulcerative colitis (OR=1.72), and pernicious anemia (OR=1.57).
Myelodysplastic syndrome was associated with RA (OR=1.52) and pernicious anemia (OR=2.38).
Overall, autoimmune conditions were not associated with CML (OR=1.09) or chronic MPD (OR=1.15), but there were some specific associations. Notably, dermatomyositis/polymyositis was associated with a 4-fold increased risk for CML and autoimmune hemolytic anemia was associated with a 12-fold increased risk for MPD.
“Medications used to treat autoimmune conditions, shared genetic predisposition and/or direct infiltration of bone marrow by autoimmune conditions, could explain these excess risks of myeloid malignancies,” Anderson et al conclude.
It's got to be these dangerous drugs we're on. My cardiologist was concerned when I started Methotrexate. I've seen lymphoma start... and on and on. We must keep observant of changes even after being on them awhile, which is why frequent labwork.
CathyM
I hope everyone reads the WARNING on the meds Enbril and Humira. I have Lymphoma Cancer now after taking Humira for 2 years. Take the warning seriously and watch for any changes. Read up on Lymphoma Cancer, you are at great risk just having autoimumne disease.[QUOTE=rbw59]I hope everyone reads the WARNING on the meds Enbril and Humira. I have Lymphoma Cancer now after taking Humira for 2 years. Take the warning seriously and watch for any changes. Read up on Lymphoma Cancer, you are at great risk just having autoimumne disease.[/QUOTE]