The prevalence and prognosis of hyponatraemia in non-Hodgkin lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Abstract

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (NHL-HLH) in adult secondary HLH is a common and universally highly lethal critical disorder. Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disorder in the critical illness setting and acts as a negative prognostic factor. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic role of hyponatraemia among patients with NHL-HLH. The results showed that 81 (52.9%) patients had hyponatraemia. After a median follow up 47 (range 14–180) days, there were 72 (88.9%) cumulative deaths in hyponatraemia group while 50 (69.4%) in normonatremia group. After adjustment for confounders, multivariate analysis revealed that hyponatraemia was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR:1.51, 95% CI: 1.03–2.20; p = 0.033). Restricted cubic spline confirmed a linear and positive association between serum sodium and the risk of mortality. Hyponatraemia is relatively frequent in NHL-HLH. As a readily available biomarker in clinical routine, it was a promising prognostic predictor for NHL-HLH.

Keywords:

• Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
• non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• hyponatraemia
• prognosis
• survival

Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude for all persons who were involved in reporting on patients and gathering data.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 81570175].