Background: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) includes pathologies of different clinical courses, treatments, outcomes. Our study aims to investigate the late effects of NHL survivors (NHLS).
Materials and methods: Among 59 NHL cases, 50 survivors completed their NHL treatment between 2003 and 2019. Out of 59 patients, the cumulative survival rates and event-free survival rates after 10 years since diagnosis were 82.9% ±5.2% and 84.1% ±5.2%, respectively. In addition, we compared the data related to chronic health and psychosocial conditions with their siblings (n = 61).
Results: The age and gender ratios were similar in the NHLS (n = 50) and the control group (n = 61). The rate of nephrotoxicity (P = 0.02) and the frequency of admission to the hospital (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in the survivors than in the control group. Cardiotoxicity is detected in 3 (6%) of NHLS with cumulative anthracycline dose <300 mg/m2. The social status (being married [P < 0.01], having children [P = 0.003]) is impaired in NHLS. The alcohol and smoking habits, education status, and health conditions (endocrinologic, cardiac, neurological, and pulmonary) were similar in both groups. One patient had acute myeloid leukemia as a secondary malignancy. Twenty NHLS took rituximab, two of them took brentuximab vedotin plus chemotherapy. NHLS have impairment in health status, social life.
Conclusion: Nephrotoxicity is a statistically more common late effect than the others in the survivors. We observe cardiotoxicity in low cumulative doses of anthracycline. A more significant number of patients is required to reveal late side effects on novel drugs.
Keywords: Children; late effects; non-Hodgkin lymphoma.