Jakarta (ANTARA) – Patients diagnosed with lymphoma of the Hodgkin lymphoma type mostly occur in the young age group between 15-30 years and the old age group between 55 years and over because the disease is related to the immune system.
“(The risk factor for Hodgkin’s lymphoma) is related to age. Because this lymphoma is related to immunity,” said a specialist in internal medicine, a medical hematology oncology consultant from RSCM Dr. dr. Andhika Rachman, Sp.PD KHOM, FINASIM during a webinar in Jakarta, Thursday.
The immune or immune system is susceptible to changes in this age range.
In the young age group, the immune system is immature so it will easily experience changes. Meanwhile, in the older age group, the immune system begins to be disturbed along with aging, including due to lack of nutrition.
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Even so, age is not the only risk factor for someone experiencing Hodgkin’s lymphoma. People with autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, and people with diseases that attack the immune system such as HIV/AIDS are also prone to experiencing changes in conditions that can transform into Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Diseases related to metabolic or insulin resistance syndromes such as high cholesterol and high diabetes also become one of the “gates” that facilitate the occurrence of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“With insulin resistance syndrome, continued high sugar, continued high cholesterol, obesity, it will interfere with cells that were normal. Even if there is a little abnormality, it will change its character to become malignant,” said Andhika.
Epstein-Barr virus infection, which easily enters preserved foods such as salted fish, smoked fish and smoked meats, can also trigger Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In addition, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is also at risk for people who abuse certain substances such as drugs.
The symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma are generally characterized by enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin. These symptoms can be accompanied by B symptoms, namely fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius, night sweats, loss of body weight of more than 10 percent of body weight for 6 months, and other symptoms such as itching, extreme fatigue, and experiencing intolerance to alcohol .
“These symptoms must be in one (series). It can’t be one at a time, meaning it’s not just a fever of 38 degrees or just sweating,” said Andhika.
To make a diagnosis, Andhika underlined the importance of conducting a differential diagnosis because the patient could have other concomitant diseases.
Among a series of other examinations, the immunohistochemical test is one of the important things to do so that treatment will be more targeted. Examination or detection of Hodgkin’s lymphoma has also been covered by BPJS Kesehatan in major hospitals.
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