Prognostic Factors in Patients with Low-Grade Nonhodgkin Lymphoma

Low-grade Nonhodgkin lymphoma (LG-NHL) is characterized by indolent clinical course, which consist of marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), follicular lymphoma (FL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) as the most common subtypes. Factors affecting prognosis and treatment need in these patients have long been the subject of research. A retrospective study was conducted with patients diagnosed with LG-NHL in Hematology Departments of two centres between 2010 and 2018. At the time of diagnosis, demographic and disease characteristics, hematological and biochemical parameters were examined. Using these data, treatment requirements, response and survival rates were calculated. The effect of parameters on survival and need to treatment were analyzed. 93 LG-NHL patients were included in this study. 40 (43%) of these patients were MZL, 28 (30.1%) were FL and 25 (26.8%) were others. In comparison of patients required treatment with patients without treatment, there was significant difference among the number of comorbidity, platelet count, neutrophil count, disease subgroups and ferritin levels. Logistic regression analysis revealed that disease subgroup (other than MZL and FL) and ferritin levels were independent risk factors for need to treatment. Only ferritin level was found to be associated with overall survival. The current study demonstrated an association between serum ferritin levels and prognosis in patients with LG-NHL. Given that it is easily available and low-cost, the initial ferritin level can be used as a prognostic marker for patients with indolent lymphoma.