Autoimmune diseases and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A Mendelian randomisation study

Objective

To examine whether genetically predicted susceptibility to ten autoimmune diseases (Behçet's disease, coeliac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, lupus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes) is associated with risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Design

Two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study.

Setting

Genome wide association studies (GWASs) of ten autoimmune diseases, NHL, and four NHL subtypes (i.e., follicular lymphoma, mature T/natural killer-cell lymphomas, non-follicular lymphoma, and other and unspecified types of NHL).

Analysis

We used data from the largest publicly available GWASs of European ancestry for each autoimmune disease, NHL, and NHL subtypes. For each autoimmune disease, we extracted single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly associated (P < 5×10-8) with that disease and that were independent of one another (R2 < 1×10-3) as genetic instruments. SNPs within the human leukocyte antigen region were not considered due to potential pleiotropy. Our primary MR analysis was the inverse-variance weighted analysis. Additionally, we conducted MR-Egger, weighted mode, and weighted median regression to address potential bias due to pleiotropy, and robust adjusted profile scores to address weak instrument bias. We carried out sensitivity analysis limited to the non-immune pathway for nominally significant findings. To account for multiple testing, we set the thresholds for statistical significance at P < 5×10-3.

Participants

The number of cases and controls identified in the relevant GWASs were 437 and 3,325 for Behçet's disease, 4,918 and 5,684 for coeliac disease, 435 and 341,188 for dermatitis herpetiformis, 4,576 and 8,039 for lupus, 11,988 and 275,335 for psoriasis, 22,350 and 74,823 for rheumatoid arthritis, 3,597 and 337,121 for sarcoidosis, 2,735 and 332,115 for Sjögren's syndrome, 9,095 and 17,584 for systemic sclerosis, 18,942 and 501,638 for type 1 diabetes, 2,400 and 410,350 for NHL; and 296 to 2,340 cases and 271,463 controls for NHL subtypes.

Exposures

Genetic variants predicting ten autoimmune diseases: Behçet's disease, coeliac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, lupus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes.

Main outcome measures

Estimated associations between genetically predicted susceptibility to ten autoimmune diseases and the risk of NHL.

Results

The variance of each autoimmune disease explained by the SNPs ranged from 0.3% to 3.1%. Negative associations between type 1 diabetes and sarcoidosis and the risk of NHL were observed (odds ratio [OR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92 to 0.98, P = 5×10-3, and OR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85 to 0.99, P = 2.8×10-2, respectively). These findings were supported by the sensitivity analyses accounting for potential pleiotropy and weak instrument bias. No significant associations were found between the other eight autoimmune diseases and NHL risk. Of the NHL subtypes, type 1 diabetes was most strongly associated with follicular lymphoma (OR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86 to 0.96, P = 1×10-3), while sarcoidosis was most strongly associated with other and unspecified NHL (OR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75 to 0.97, P = 1.8×10-2).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that genetically predicted susceptibility to type 1 diabetes, and to some extent sarcoidosis, might reduce the risk of NHL. However, future studies with different datasets, approaches, and populations are warranted to further examine the potential associations between these autoimmune diseases and the risk of NHL.

Ibrutinib as a treatment of hematologic autoimmune disorders in patients with indolent B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune conditions in B-cell lymphomas are frequent. Steroids are standard of care, but many patients require other immunosuppressive agents. Ibrutinib is a Bruton Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor that is approved for B-cell indolent lymphoma treatment. We evaluated the use of ibrutinib in previously treated hematologic immune manifestations associated with B-cell lymphomas.

RESULTS

We conducted a retrospective multicentric observational study. Patients presenting with active, relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma associated hematological immune manifestation (autoimmune cytopenia, acquired immune-mediated bleeding disorders) were included. Twenty-five patients were identified. Median age at ibrutinib introduction was 69 years (range 44-84) and median number of previous treatment lines before ibrutinib was 2 (1-7). Twenty-two patients (88%) were on concomitant stable treatment at inclusion. Within a median exposure of 8 months (2-35), overall response rate to ibrutinib on immune manifestations was 76% (95% CI, 54.9-90.6); complete response rate 44%. Fourteen patients (63%) were able to be weaned from concomitant treatments. Fourteen patients (56%) presented treatment-related adverse events, mostly Grade 1 or 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Ibrutinib in this setting provides good efficacy and safety profile. Clinical trials are needed to define subgroups of patients who will benefit from this strategy and establish its place in the therapeutic arsenal.

Environmental risk factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: umbrella review and comparison of meta-analyses of summary and individual participant data

Objectives

To summarise the range, strength, and validity of reported associations between environmental risk factors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and to evaluate the concordance between associations reported in meta-analyses of summary level data and meta-analyses of individual participant data.

Design

Umbrella review and comparison of meta-analyses of summary and individual participant level data.

Data sources

Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Library, and Epistemonikos, from inception to 23 July 2021.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

English language meta-analyses of summary level data and of individual participant data evaluating associations between environmental risk factors and incident non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (overall and subtypes).

Data extraction and synthesis

Summary effect estimates from meta-analyses of summary level data comparing ever versus never exposure that were adjusted for the largest number of potential confounders were re-estimated using a random effects model and classified as presenting evidence that was non-significant, weak (P<0.05), suggestive (P<0.001 and >1000 cases), highly suggestive (P<0.000001, >1000 cases, largest study reporting a significant association), or convincing (P<0.000001, >1000 cases, largest study reporting a significant association, I2 <50%, 95% prediction interval excluding the null value, and no evidence of small study effects and excess significance bias) evidence. When the same exposures, exposure contrast levels, and outcomes were evaluated in meta-analyses of summary level data and meta-analyses of individual participant data from the International Lymphoma Epidemiology (InterLymph) Consortium, concordance in terms of direction, level of significance, and overlap of 95% confidence intervals was examined. Methodological quality of the meta-analyses of summary level data was assessed by the AMSTAR 2 tool.

Results

We identified 85 meta-analyses of summary level data reporting 257 associations for 134 unique environmental risk factors and 10 subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma nearly all (79, 93%) were classified as having critically low quality. Most associations (225, 88%) presented either non-significant or weak evidence. The 11 (4%) associations presenting highly suggestive evidence were primarily for autoimmune or infectious disease related risk factors. Only one association, between history of coeliac disease and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, presented convincing evidence. Of 40 associations reported in meta-analyses of summary level data that were also evaluated in InterLymph meta-analyses of individual participant data, 22 (55%) pairs were in the same direction, had the same level of statistical significance, and had overlapping 95% confidence intervals; 28 (70%) pairs had summary effect sizes from the meta-analyses of individual participant data that were more conservative.

Conclusion

This umbrella review suggests evidence of many meta-analyses of summary level data reporting weak associations between environmental risk factors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Improvements to primary studies as well as evidence synthesis in evaluations of evironmental risk factors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are needed.

Review registration number

PROSPERO CRD42020178010.

Anti-LDL Receptor-Related Protein 2 Nephropathy with Synchronous Primary Kidney Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Introduction

Anti-LDL receptor-related protein 2 (anti-LRP2) nephropathy is a rare but progressive form of autoimmune-mediated tubulointerstitial nephritis and glomerular disease, characterized by a classic pattern of immune complex deposition in the kidney. A theoretic link between autoimmune disease and lymphoproliferative diseases exists, and therefore, in some cases autoimmune-mediated inflammation and lymphoproliferative neoplasm can co-exist in the same site.

Case Presentation

An elderly man presented with 6 months of weight loss and fatigue. Subsequent workup showed an elevated serum creatinine and subnephrotic range proteinuria. Kidney biopsy was performed which revealed anti-LRP2 nephropathy with concurrent primary kidney extranodal marginal zone lymphoma. He was subsequently treated with rituximab but remains dialysis-dependent (12 months after his initial diagnosis, at time of publication of this report).

Conclusion

We discuss the bidirectional relationship between autoimmune disease and lymphoma in the kidney, along with a brief review of the literature pertaining to these rare lesions. Our case report highlights the diagnostic difficulties faced by pathologists when encountering this entity. We also attempt to spread awareness about the co-existence of tubulointerstitial inflammation and lymphoproliferative disorder, which may be under-recognized.

Juvenile dermatomyositis/polymyositis and lymphoma

In patients with juvenile dermatomyositis/polymyositis (JDM/PM), malignancy is a rare phenomenon. An extensive workup for neoplastic disease is not routinely indicated, but should be considered if unusual physical findings are noted at JDM/PM diagnosis or during follow-up period. The objective of this literature review was to assess for any association between, and disease profile of, JDM/PM and lymphoma in childhood. Risk determinants of the possible development of lymphoma in the pediatric population with JDM/PM appear to be the degree and duration of inflammatory activity with chronic B-cell activation and/or antigen stimulation; a paraneoplastic relationship is unlikely.

Inflammatory myopathies and lymphoma

The inflammatory myopathies comprise a group of immune-mediated muscle diseases. Lymphoma is a term for a variety of lymphatic system malignancies. Autoimmune diseases and lymphoproliferative malignancies share a complex bidirectional relationship. A causal relationship between inflammatory mypathies and lymphoma has not been established. The diagnosis/treatment of inflammatory myopathy usually precedes the detection/diagnosis of lymphoma. Immune system dysregulation presumably underlies the evolution of lymphoma in patients with inflammatory myopathies. Inflammatory activity with chronic B-cell activation and/or antigen stimulation is deemed the major risk factor for lymphoma in patients with autoimmunity. A "paraneoplastic" phenomenon or the effects of immunosuppressive therapy may be alternative immune-based mechanisms. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia immune system disturbance rarely results in non-hematological autoimmune disease, including inflammatory myopathies.

Lymphoma-associated dysimmune polyneuropathies

Lymphoma consists of a variety of malignancies of lymphocyte origin. A spectrum of clinical peripheral neuropathy syndromes with different disease mechanisms occurs in about 5% of lymphoma patients. There exists a complex inter-relationship between lymphoproliferative malignancies and autoimmunity. An imbalance in the regulation of the immune system presumably underlies various immune-mediated neuropathies in patients with lymphoma. This article reviews lymphoma and more-or-less well-defined dysimmune neuropathy subgroups that are caused by humoral and/or cell-mediated immune disease mechanisms directed against known or undetermined peripheral nerve antigens.

Autoantibody-Mediated Sensory Polyneuropathy Associated with Indolent B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Report of Two Cases

Background and Purpose

Abnormalities of the peripheral nervous system occur in 5% of patients with lymphoma. Polyneuropathy has not been described in patients with mantle-cell and marginal-zone B-cell lymphomas.

Case Report

Two elderly patients with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developed a progressive sensory polyneuropathy that was associated with serum autoantibodies directed against asialosyl/sialosyl gangliosides and myelin-associated glycoprotein/sulfated glucuronyl paragloboside, respectively, which are peripheral-nerve antigens. The oligoclonal pattern of these antibodies hinted at a lymphoma-induced immune dysregulation. The neuropathy stabilized clinically during treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin G. B-cell lymphoma was managed with a "watchful waiting" approach.

Conclusions

The concept of antigen-specific, immune-mediated neuropathy associated with slow-growing lymphoma of mature B-cells may be underrecognized. The principle of treating the illness underlying neuropathy may not be always indicated or necessary if risk-benefit and cost-benefit analyses are taken into account.

Autoimmune phenomena in untreated and treated marginal zone lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

Current literature suggests an association between various autoimmune conditions and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). However, these autoimmune conditions have not been comprehensively systematized to date. As a result, their clinical implications remain largely unknown.

AREAS COVERED

The authors provide a comprehensive review of the existing literature on various autoimmune abnormalities documented in the course of MZL, as well as on autoimmune alterations induced by certain MZL therapies.

EXPERT OPINION

The course of MZL is accompanied by a variety of hematologic and non-hematologic autoimmune disorders. Whereas some of them could be secondary and related to the course of the MZL, others may be primary and might even favor the development of MZL itself. In addition, authentic autoimmune conditions have been documented with the use of rituximab as a single agent and the nucleoside analogs. Therefore, we believe caution should be exerted with the use of these agents in MZL patients with evidence of autoimmune disorders, as exacerbation of autoimmune phenomena can be anticipated. While the heterogeneity of the MZL subtypes represents an inherent limitation, integration of emerging information from immunology research laboratories and clinical practice could translate into improved outcomes of this disease spectrum.