Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
Several studies from Europe have reported a high prevalence (9% to 32%) of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It has been suggested that HCV plays a role in the pathogenesis of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of HCV infection in patients with B-cell lymphoma in the United States.


METHODS
Controlled, cross-sectional analysis.


METHODS
University medical center.


METHODS
120 patients with B-cell lymphoma (78% were Hispanic, 9% were black, 7% were Asian, and 6% were white), 154 patients with other malignant hematologic conditions (control group 1), and 114 patients with nonmalignant conditions (control group 2).


METHODS
Samples were tested for antibodies to HCV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Genotyping for HCV was done with genotype-specific primers from the HCV core region.


RESULTS
Infection with HCV was detected in 26 patients (22% [95% CI, 15% to 30%]) with B-cell lymphoma compared with 7 of 154 patients (4.5%) in control group 1 and 6 of 114 patients (5%) in control group 2 (P < 0.001). Risk factors for HCV infection were present in 15 patients (60%) with B-cell lymphoma and occurred a median of 15 years before diagnosis of lymphoma. Monocytoid B-cell lymphoma was the most common type of lymphoma found in HCV-positive patients (23% compared with 7% in HCV-negative patients) (P = 0.034).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of HCV infection was higher in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma than in controls. The possible role of HCV in the pathogenesis of B-cell lymphoma warrants further investigation.
Zuckerman
E
E
University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
Zuckerman
T
T
Levine
A M
AM
Douer
D
D
Gutekunst
K
K
Mizokami
M
M
Qian
D G
DG
Velankar
M
M
Nathwani
B N
BN
Fong
T L
TL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral