Causes and risk factors
What causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
No specific cause has been identified.
What are the risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas?
Suggested risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas include the following:
- Genetic disease of the immune system.
- Unprotected exposure to strong sunlight.
- Smoking.
- Environmental factors such as radiation, chemicals and infections.
- Organ transplantation.
- Infections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV-1).
- History of infectious mononucleosis – caused by an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus.
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterium, which has been identified as a cause of stomach ulcers.
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