HCV and HGV in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

A causative role of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) has been discussed in the pathogenesis of mixed cryoglobulinaemia and in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. No data are available concerning the newly discovered hepatitis G virus (HGV) and extrahepatic manifestations such as haematological malignancies. But, HCV and HGV most probably belong to the same family of Flavivirus. Consequently, we looked for the prevalence of HCV, HGV and cryoglobulins in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Serum samples from 69 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were studied. Diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was established according to the Kiel classification. Active HCV- and HGV infections were investigated using polymerase chain reaction for detection of viral RNA. Cryoglobulins were detected from serum and monoclonal immunoglobulin components were analysed with immunofixation electrophoresis. In addition, we assessed the clinical course of HCV- and HGV-infected patients under chemotherapy.

Three of 69 (4.3%) patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were HCV-infected and nine non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients (13.0%) were positive for hepatitis G virus RNA. All HGV infected patients were suffering from low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. No HGV-infected patient was co-infected by HCV and neither HCV- nor HGV-infected patients showed clinical signs of chronic liver disease before, during or after chemotherapy. Serum samples from all patients were devoid of cryoglobulins.

HCV seems to have no significance for the pathogenesis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Germany. The increased prevalence of hepatitis G (16.3%) in patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma could suggest a pathological consequence of HGV infection outside of the liver. Evidence of clinically relevant hepatic disease in HGV infected patients was not obtained. Further, chemotherapy does not seem to affect the subsequent clinical course of HGV infection.