RISK OF ADULT ACUTE-LEUKEMIA IN RELATION TO PRIOR IMMUNE-RELATED CONDITIONS

We explored the association between immune-related conditions and adul t acute leukemia in a study of 624 patients with acute myeloid leukemi a (AML), 124 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 63 pati ents with other acute leukemias, and 637 healthy population controls, Common childhood viral diseases were weakly associated with AML and AL L, particularly with early exposure (less than or equal to 5 years of age), Odds ratios (ORs) were elevated for chicken pox and measles at a ny age, but only the associations with measles were statistically sign ificant [OR = 1.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.40-2.56 for AML an d OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.07-3.06 for ALL]. There was no association betw een other infectious diseases, allergies, asthma, or eczema and risk f or AML or ALL, although there was a significant association between ps oriasis and ALL (OR = 3.23; 95% CI, 1.25-8.30). These results offer li ttle support for either a protective effect of enhanced immune surveil lance or a harmful effect from antigenic stimulation in relation to ri sk for acute leukemia in adults, However, the associations between can cer risk and childhood infectious diseases are intriguing and may warr ant additional research.