title: Chronic hepatitis C and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a hepatotropic and lymphotropic virus, is the major causative agent of nonA-nonB chronic hepatitis; moreover, it is frequently associated with benign and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders such as mixed cryoglobulinaemia and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We investigated the clinical and virological features of B-cell NHL complicating chronic hepatitis C in a series of 10 patients (M/F 1/9; mean age 63 +/- 6SD years). The malignancy appeared after median 8 +/- 4SD years from onset and was low-grade in six patients, intermediate in three, and high-grade in one. 'One-tube nested' PCR detected serum HCV RNA and viral ongoing replication in both fresh and cultured peripheral lymphocytes in all ten. Analysis of HCV genotypes showed a relatively higher prevalence of 2a/III type compared with unselected chronic hepatitis C (50% vs. 15%). In one patient, HCV RNA was also found in the neoplastic bone marrow and lymph-node specimens. B-cell NHL can complicate chronic hepatitis C and affect the overall prognosis of the disease. The increasing frequency of chronic hepatitis C worldwide suggests that the actual prevalence of this complication may be underestimated. Careful clinical work-up at diagnosis and during follow-up is particularly recommendable.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Patologia Medica I, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Civita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cecchetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caracciolo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Longombardo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardini
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zignego
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral