FAMILIAL HODGKINS-DISEASE - A DISEASE OF YOUNG ADULTHOOD

Familial Hodgkin's disease (FHD) is estimated to represent approximate ly 4.5% of all cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD). Shared environmental f actors, such as Epstein-Barr virus and other viral agents, and genetic determinants have all been proposed to explain familial aggregation o f HD. In order to compare the characteristic features of FHD with thos e of the much more common sporadic form, we reviewed 28 articles on FH D, published between 1972 and 1995, and analyzed in further detail dat a from 18 papers, reporting on a total of 328 patients. The male-to-fe male ratio of the FHD population examined was 1.5, similar to that rep orted for sporadic HD, and lower than the one suggested for FHD by som e authors. On the other hand, a significant difference was found betwe en sporadic and familial HD according to age at diagnosis; that is, on ly one major peak between 15 and 34 years was present in the group of patients with FHD. Further investigation of FHD in young adulthood may provide insight into the hypothesis of a genetic or infectious etiolo gy of the disease.