[Epidemiology of Hodgkin's disease from the pathophysiologic viewpoint--review]

The aetiology of Hodgkin's disease remains unclear, however epidemiological characteristics have led to directive conceptions. The description of the rare familiar appearance of lymphogranulomatosis among other things by two cases of our own population and the presentation of milieu factors influencing incidence and prevalence rates give a extensive basis of discussion to develop pathophysiological ideas and to prove it by clinical, pathological, genetical and immunological knowledge. Genetical determination by an autosomal-dominant allele, with incomplete penetrance, predisposing insufficiency of immune suppression and disease inducing virus infection seems less to be three competing aetiologic systems; they rather form a causing trinity, which internal connexions we are at present not able to understand.