Assessment of the role of hepatitis C, Helicobacter pylori and autoimmunity in MALT lymphoma of the ocular adnexa in 45 Austrian patients.
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.
Gruenberger
Birgit
B
Department of Medicine I, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Woehrer
Stefan
S
Troch
Marlene
M
Hauff
Wolfgang
W
Lukas
Julius
J
Streubel
Berthold
B
Muellauer
Leonhard
L
Chott
Andreas
A
Raderer
Markus
M
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
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens