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Published on: May 7, 2012
Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
E Zuckerman1, T Zuckerman, A M Levine
1University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is more prevalent in US patients with B-cell lymphoma (22%) than in control groups. Further research is needed to understand HCV's role in B-cell lymphoma pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- European studies indicate a high prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients (9-32%).
- HCV is suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of HCV infection among patients diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma in the United States.
- To investigate the association between HCV infection and B-cell lymphoma.
Main Methods:
- A controlled, cross-sectional analysis was conducted at a university medical center.
- 120 patients with B-cell lymphoma and two control groups (154 with other hematologic conditions, 114 with nonmalignant conditions) were analyzed.
- HCV infection was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for RNA; genotyping was performed.
Main Results:
- HCV infection was detected in 22% of B-cell lymphoma patients, significantly higher than in control group 1 (4.5%) and control group 2 (5%) (P < 0.001).
- HCV risk factors were present in 60% of infected B-cell lymphoma patients, typically appearing 15 years prior to lymphoma diagnosis.
- Monocytoid B-cell lymphoma was more common in HCV-positive patients (23%) compared to HCV-negative patients (7%) (P = 0.034).
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of HCV infection is significantly higher in US patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma compared to control populations.
- The findings suggest a potential role for HCV in the pathogenesis of B-cell lymphoma, warranting further investigation.
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.
Design:
Controlled, cross-sectional analysis.
Setting:
University medical center.
Patients:
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).
Measurements:
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.
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