Blood transfusion at delivery and risk of subsequent malignant lymphoma in the mother

• BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Blood transfusion has been shown to be a risk factor for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cohort of 77,928 women with bleeding complications at delivery in the period of 1973-1986, subsequent NHL cases were identified and the number was compared with the number expected from national incidence rates. In a case-control study the proportion of transfused NHL cases was compared with the proportion of transfused controls.RESULTS: The observed number of NHL in the cohort was 18 versus 22.0 expected. Information on transfusion was obtained for 15 of the NHL cases and none (0%) was transfused versus 32 out of 136 controls (23%).CONCLUSIONS: Blood transfusion at delivery is not a risk factor for NHL. The immune tolerance induced by pregnancy may reduce the risk of NHL associated with the transfusion of allogeneic blood cells.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adult

Blood Transfusion

Case-Control Studies

Cohort Studies

Delivery, Obstetric

Female

Hodgkin Disease

Humans

Incidence

Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin

Postpartum Hemorrhage

Pregnancy

Risk Factors

Sweden

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)