Possible factors that may contribute to NHL development
For the majority of NHL cases no causal agent or condition can be identified. The following statements relate only to about 10% or less of all lymphomas.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with an increased incidence of lymphoma, probably due to immunosuppression. Other pathogens associated with lymphomas include: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is associated with the epidemic form of Burkitt's lymphoma found predominantly in Africa; human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), which is found predominantly in Japan and the Caribbean; and Helicobacter pylori, which is closely associated with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphomas. Other disease states affecting the immune system may be weakly associated with lymphomas, including: rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease, hypogammaglobulinaemia and immune suppression. Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Sjogren's disease are associated with thyroid lymphoma and salivary gland lymphoma, respectively. An increased incidence of lymphoma is also observed following exposure to radiation, e.g. atomic plant accidents such as Chernobyl and after low-dose therapeutic spinal irradiation for management of ankylosing spondylitis1.
References
- Alexander DD, et al. Int J Cancer 2007;120 Suppl 12:1-29
