[The occurrence of malignancies in a Hungarian lupus population]

Chronic organ damages and complications have become one of the major problems concerning morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Present study was to examine the frequencies and types of malignancies in a lupus population followed regularly in our department, and to find correlation between cancer-associated mortality and the use of immune suppressants.

Authors analysed data 860 lupus patients from 1965 till the end of 2004. During study period 164 patients died, 18 of whom from cancer. The frequency of cancer-associated mortality was 11% that was 2% of the total lupus population. Mortality has increased within 10-year periods reaching the maximum between 2001-2004 (8/24, 33%). Age of the 37 patients affected by malignancy was 47.7 (20-73) years. Cancers appeared 13.4 (1-45) years after the diagnosis of lupus. Breast cancer occurred most frequently (n=11) followed by gastro-intestinal malignancies (n=9), then cervix cancer and different hematologic malignancies (5-5 cases), bronchial cancer (n=4) and skin, ovarian and vesical cancers (1-1-1 cases). Relative risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cervix cancer increased significantly as compared to those of the Hungarian general female population. Before the cancer developed 62.2% of patients received azathioprine and/or cyclophosphamide.

Present results describe and analyse for the first time the association between lupus and malignant disorders in a Hungarian population calling the attention for the increased risk for the development of cancers and the importance of regular screening and extended examinations in SLE patients.