Benefits and risks of biological agents: Lymphomas

R.F. van Vollenhoven

Department of Rheumatology D1-2, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

ABSTRACT
Lymphomas are uncommon malignancies of unknown aetiology. Rheumatoid arthritis is a known risk factor for lymphoma, and some studies show that this risk is higher in patients with more severe disease. The causes of the association between RA and lymphoma are not understood. Conventional anti-rheumatic agents may increase the risk for lymphoma, but these associations are relatively weak at most. For the currently available TNF-a antagonists, available data include the possibility of a somewhat higher risk for lymphoma than for patients not treated with such agents, but also point to several sources of bias that could explain a possible association. Current practice recommendations should probably not go further than an awareness of the possibility of lymphoma in any patient with RA exhibiting unexplained systemic symptoms. 

Key words
Lymphoma, biological agents, rheumatoid arthritis.

Ronald F. van Vollenhoven, MD, PhD, Senior physician and Associate Professor of Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology D1-2, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institute, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
E-mail: ronald.vanvollenhoven@kus.se

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2004; 22 (Suppl. 35): S122-S125.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2004.