hodgkin's lymphoma | Hodgkin's disease

Hodgkin's disease

Hodgkin's disease, or Hodgkin's lymphoma, is named after the Doctor Thomas Hodgkin who, in the nineteenth century (in 1832), identified lymphoma for the first time. It is malignant cancer of the lymphatic system as well as non-Hodgkin lymphomas. This type of lymphoma only accounts for 10-15% of all lymphomas.

Definition of Hodgkin's disease
According to the statistics on lymphomas, although Hodgkin's disease can affect people of all ages, it is mainly adolescents, young adults and elderly people who are concerned. On the other hand, 80% of the patients are men.

This pathology is characterized by the presence of cells capable of changing form within lymphocytes: Reed-Sternberg cells. Although derived from B lymphocytes, these cells are unable to synthesize immunoglobulins (proteins secreted by B lymphocytes to protect the organism from microbial aggression).

Although the cause of these lymphomas is not known, in a third of cases there are traces of the Epstein-Barr virus (the origin of mononucleosis) in tumor cells. Moreover, the onset of Hodgkin's disease appears to be favored by immune deficiency. The disease will then spread through lymphatic and blood.

Note: Reed-Sternberg cells are also found in rare cases of peripheral T-lymphomas.

Hodgkin's disease: few symptoms
Hodgkin's disease causes quite a few symptoms, apart from those usually found in the case of lymphoma, namely:

Swelling of the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), with sometimes ganglion pain in the ingestion of alcoholic beverages;
Abnormal fatigue
Skin lesions and/or itching;
A splenomegaly (increase in the volume of the spleen);
Important night sweats;
Loss of appetite with slimming
Fever above 38 °c.
Note: Other visceral attacks are sometimes observed.

Complications associated with Hodgkin's disease
Hodgkin's disease is likely to cause a number of complications. The main ones are:

Secondary leukemias due to chemotherapy (risk up to 15 times higher than that of the rest of the population); However, new protocols for the treatment of lymphoma, particularly those based on sensitizers drugs (Adriamycin and bleomycin under the ABVD protocol), Rendraientt this negligible risk;
The occurrence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as a result of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both;
The appearance of secondary tumours, even 15 years after radiation therapy (depending on the type of irradiation received by the patient);
Risks of myocardial infarction tripled as a result of mediastinum radiation therapy;
thyroid disorders (including hypothyroidism) in a third of the radiotherapy performed above the diaphragm;
Infections (including shingles and pneumonia) in the years following repeated ABVD treatments.
However, today, 60 to 95% of patients with Hodgkin's disease can expect a complete cure if they have been diagnosed early.