Seven prognostic factors have been identified that accurately predict the success rate of conventional treatment in patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Freedom from progression (FFP) at five years was directly related to the number of factors present in a patient. The five year FFP for patients with zero factors is 84%. Each additional factor lowers the five year FFP rate by 7%, such that the 5-year FFP for a patient with 5 or more factors is 42%.
The adverse prognostic factors identified in the international study are:
- Age >= 45 years
- Stage IV disease
- Hemoglobin < 10.5 g/dl
- Lymphocyte count < 600/µl or < 8%
- Male
- Albumin < 4.0 g/dl
- White blood count >= 15,000/µl
Please feel free to read more of the study: Hasenclever (1998-11-19). “A Prognostic Score for Advanced Hodgkin’s Disease”. New England Journal of Medicine 339 (21). The study is available for free download at: New England Journal of Medicine Website.