Analytical Review: Leukemia or Lymphoma Occurring Subsequent to an Autoimmune Disease

Abstract

Abstract The hypothesis of undue susceptibility to leukemia or lymphoma in individuals with autoimmune disease is evaluated by an analysis of case reports and an analysis of the mortality experience of series of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. No direct support for the hypothesis is found. The difficulty in accumulating a sufficient number of person years at risk in series of individuals with autoimmune disease is noted and alternative approaches to validating this hypothesis are discussed.