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Outcome of Hodgkin lymphoma in pregnant women is similar to that in non-pregnant women

Published on: 11 November 2019

Women diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy can be successfully treated during pregnancy with no harm to the unborn child.

Text that says Results

A study published last week in the Lancet Haematology found that women diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy have an excellent prognosis and can be treated during the second and third trimester of pregnancy with few risks for their unborn babies.

The study analysed data from 134 women diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy between 1969 and 2018. Around half of these women had treatment during pregnancy and half delayed treatment until after they had given birth. Outcomes were compared between the two groups. They were also compared with data from non-pregnant women with Hodgkin lymphoma.

The study found that:

  • Outcomes were similar in pregnant women who had treatment during pregnancy, pregnant women who delayed treatment until after they had given birth, and non-pregnant women with Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • The babies of mothers who had treatment during pregnancy tended to have a lower birth weight than the babies of mothers who did not have treatment during pregnancy, but the number of babies who needed to be admitted to neonatal intensive care was similar in the two groups.
  • Around two-thirds of babies of women with Hodgkin lymphoma were delivered prematurely for medical reasons.

The study concluded that Hodgkin lymphoma can be treated after the first trimester of pregnancy with good outcomes for the mother and the baby.

Find out more about lymphoma during pregnancy on our health information pages.

For more information on the latest lymphoma research and clinical trials, visit Lymphoma TrialsLink.

11 November 2019