Malignant lymphoma in granulomatosis with polyangiitis: subtypes, clinical characteristics and prognosis

Abstract

Several autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sj€ ogrens’s syndrome (pSS), have repeatedly been linked to an increased risk of malignant lymphoma [1,2]. Certain inflammatory conditions are also associated with the development of specific lymphoma subtypes such as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in pSS and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in RA. The underlying mechanisms behind this association remain unclear. The highly increased risk of developing MALT lymphoma of the parotid gland in pSS indicates that local inflammatory processes can promote lymphoma development at the site of chronic inflammation [3]. In RA, an association between disease severity and risk of lymphoma has been shown. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly Wegener’s granulomatosis, is a systemic small vessel vasculitis associated with the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and characterized by granulomatous inflammation and necrotizing vasculitis of the airways and kidneys but possibly affecting any organ system. An increased risk of lymphoma in patients with GPA has been reported in several epidemiological studies [4,5]. However, very little is known about risk factors for lymphoma development in this group, possible relation to disease severity, treatment and lymphoma subtypes or the prognosis for the lymphomas. This is the first published study on GPA and lymphoma, giving detailed information on the GPA characteristics and possible risk factors for lymphoma and also lymphoma subtypes treatment and survival.