Pre-Morbid Factors in Hodgkin's Disease I. Birth Weight and Growth Pattern from 8 to 14 Years of Age

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Abstract
The risk of Hodgkin''s disease (HD) in young adults is correlated to height. This association indicates an etiologic factor acting during growth. To evaluate the importance of growth pattern as a risk factor in HD, the register of records from the school health service of the Copenhagen Council was scrutinized to find Danes with HD born between 1930 and 1950. Whenever possible, 3 matched controls (comparable in respect to socio-economic status) were selected from the register for each case. The material consisted of 63 cases and 183 controls. Information regarding height, weight and birth weight was obtained from the school health records. The patients were taller than controls at 8, 10, 12 and 14 yr of age. The birth weight was available in 33 cases and 99 controls, and was higher in the former (median 3.50 kg) than in the latter (median 3.30 kg) (P < 0.01). A risk factor may exist associated with rapid growth, or a protective factor connected with slower growth, effective even before birth, may exist.

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