Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, its side effects and the involvement of the IGF-system

Abstract

A patient with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and acidosis was admitted to the Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis in Delft. Serum samples of this patient were send to the Laboratory of Endocrinology of the University Medical Centre Utrecht for further analysis of components of the insulin growth factor (IGF) system. At present only a few case reports appeared that described the possible involvement of the IGF system in patients suffering from NHL and either acidosis and/or hypoglycaemia. In fact, this was the reason for the subject of the present thesis.

(NHL) is a malignant disease which represents 3-5% of all cancers registered in Europe. It is caused by a dysfunction of the B-lymphocytes, what results in lymphadenopathy and other symptoms1. A rare complication of NHL is the occurrence of lactic acidosis and/or hypoglycaemia.

In this thesis the literature on the involvement of the IGF system in NHL and acidosis and hypoglycaemia is reviewed. During the brief internship in the Laboratory of Endocrinology various components of the IGF system in patient’s sera, as obtained both before and during treatment, were investigated. The possible implications of the results are discussed.