Ankylosing Spondylitis Does Not Appear To Increase Lymphoma Risk
9/18/06
An extended report published in the journal, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, states that, "On average and in the absence of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors, patients hospitalised with ankylosing spondylitis [AS] do not appreciably show an increased risk of lymphoma."
This finding is different than in the case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) where, according to one study entitled, "Association of chronic inflammation, not its treatment, with increased lymphoma risk in rheumatoid arthritis", that severe and longstanding RA can lead to 70 times the risk for developing lymphoma.
These findings could be important, especially when evaluating the safety of medications. States Dr. Johan Askling, "Somewhat unlike the situation in rheumatoid arthritis, a finding of an increased occurrence of lymphomas in, for example, a drug trial among patients with AS should be considered unexpected and a reason for concern."
Concerns over the newer class of biologic medications, the TNF-a inhibitors, possibly causing an increased risk in lymphoma is one such scenario. For example, a report from the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine states that one potential, major adverse side effect of using a TNF-a inhibitor is, "the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma." Albeit they clarify that those with moderate to high rheumatoid disease are already at a greater risk of developing lymphoma.
References: "Risk for malignant lymphoma in ankylosing spondylitis: a nationwide Swedish case-control study." J Askling et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2006;65:1184-1187.
"Association of chronic inflammation, not its treatment, with increased lymphoma risk in rheumatoid arthritis." Eva Baecklund et al. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2006; 54(3):692-701.
"The yin and yang of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors." Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. Volume 73; Number 3. March 2006.