[Correlation of hepatitis B virus infection to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

Previous studies showed that the infection rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is higher in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients than in non-primary liver cancer solid tumor patients and general population in the same region, but the correlation of HBV infection to NHL is inconclusive. This study was to compare HBV infection rate of NHL patients with that of non-primary liver cancer solid tumor patients, and explore the correlation of HBV infection to NHL.

The infection of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in 109 NHL patients and 128 colorectal carcinoma patients was detected. The positive rates of HBsAg in the patients and general population were compared by Chi-square test.

The positive rate of HBsAg was significantly higher in NHL patients than in colorectal carcinoma patients and general population (40.4% vs. 14.1% and 17.3%, P<0.01). Regarding colorectal carcinoma patients as a reference group, odds ratio (OR) of NHL in HbsAg-positive population was 2.87, and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.830-4.502.

The positive rate of HBsAg is higher in NHL patients than in colorectal carcinoma patients and general population.