title: Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Douer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gutekunst
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizokami
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velankar
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Nathwani
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral