Hodgkin's disease in Kenya

A total of 136 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) seen at a national referral hospital in Kenya over a 15-year period were studied. The overall male-to-female ratio was 2.6:1, with 65% of patients younger than 20 years of age. The bimodal incidence of HD frequently seen in the developed nations was absent, and the histologic pattern of the disease was similar to that seen in other African countries. Fifty percent of patients had advanced-stage disease when first seen. Over two thirds of patients treated had a clinical remission, and the relapse rate in all stages was approximately 30%. Therapy-related complications were common, with frequent myelosuppression and younger patients more susceptible.