What are the risk factors for developing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma?

What are the risk factors for developing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma?

For the most part, there aren’t a lot of risk factors for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and most patients that develop it don't have any history of risk factors. But there are some risk factors related to underlying problems with the immune system. So for people who have certain infections, including HIV, there's an increased risk of lymphoma. For people who have certain rheumatologic conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis. or patients who have been on medications that cause immunodeficiency, there's an increased risk. For patients who have had, a transplant before, there's a specific type of aggressive B-cell lymphoma called post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder that they can develop.

And then there is some association with exposure. While it's not always clear exactly what level, we know that there's an increased risk in certain veterans who've served in the military or at certain sites, an increased risk of all lymphomas in people like the 9/11 firefighters.