Prognostic variables of aggressive lymphomas in Egyptian population

Abstract EN

Background : Aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) are a group of at least 10 distinct disease entities within the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasm.

The aim of this work is to study different prognostic factors of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and evaluation of International Prognostic Index (IPI) in predicting the disease response, overall survival and relapse free survival in Egyptian population.

Method : We reviewed the records of 428 consecutive patients with pathologically proven aggressive lymphoma persecuted at the department of Cancer Management and Research, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University between 1996 to 2005, of whom 380 patients received treatment.

We analyzed the clinical data of 350 patients, including age, performance status, number of extra nodal site, B symptoms, serum albumin, hemoglobin level, IPI.

Results : In univariate survival analysis by age, sex, performance status, ESR, B2 micro globulin, tumor bulk, extra nodal sites, LDH and serum albumin, it was found that age of patients, performance status, LDH and extra nodal site as well as serum albumin are factors affecting survival, while in multivariate analysis only performance status, Ann Arbor stage and Hb level had independent prognostic significance as regard to disease free and overall survival.

Conclusion : Outcome of aggressive NHL treated with chemotherapy in Egypt although not satisfactory, approaches to the international percentage.

Utilization of IPI in all patients with aggressive lymphoma as a part of work up should be done for better understanding of the prognosis of patients and tailoring the treatment.