Systemic
B-symptoms:
These are specific systemic symptoms with important prognostic significance.
Seen in ~one third of cases:
- Fever > 38.00 C
- Weight loss (>10% of baseline body weight over past 6 months)
- Drenching night sweats
Other systemic symptoms may include:
- Pel-Ebstein Fever (waxing-and-waning course over days to weeks)
- Anemia or Weakness from Bone Marrow Involvement
- Pruritis (itching):
- Seen in 15-25%
- Usually mild usually associated with advanced disease
- Commoner in women
- Generalized
- Usually resolves when Hodgkin lymphoma is treated
- Previously characterized as a “B-symptom” but not found to have prognostic significance
- Alcohol-induced pain at site of involved lymph nodes
