title: Assessment of the role of hepatitis C, Helicobacter pylori and autoimmunity in MALT lymphoma of the ocular adnexa in 45 Austrian patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A recent series from Italy has suggested a pathogenic link between hepatitis C virus and MALT lymphoma of the ocular adnexa. The hypothesis of our study was to prove this concept in Austrian patients with MALT lymphoma of the ocular adnexa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 patients presenting with MALT lymphoma of the ocular adnexa were assessed for the presence of infection with hepatitis A, B and C. Furthermore, extensive staging to evaluate the extent of disease along with analysis of Helicobacter pylori-infection, the presence or absence of autoimmune diseases (AD) and assessment of MALT-lymphoma specific genetic changes was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 2/45 (4%) patients were tested positive for hepatitis C, while 10/45 (22%) had an underlying AD and 15/39 (38%) had HP infection. Chromosomal aberrations were detected in 19 (54%) of 35 patients analyzed. Disseminated disease was a significant risk factor for relapse (p=0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our series suggests that infection with hepatitis C is not a significant contributor to the pathogenesis of ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma in the Austrian population, while a substantial proportion of these patients suffer from autoimmune conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gruenberger
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woehrer
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Troch
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hauff
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Streubel
authors.forename: Leonhard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muellauer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chott
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raderer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens