Prevalence of hepatitis B or C virus infections in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 2001-02, Vol.16 (2), p.215-219
• Main Authors: Kuniyoshi, Masami, Nakamuta, Makoto, Sakai, Hironori, Enjoji, Munechika, Kinukawa, Naoko, Kotoh, Kazuhiro, Fukutomi, Marie, Yokota, Masaki, Nishi, Hidehiro, Iwamoto, Hiroaki, Uike, Naokuni, Nishimura, Junji, Inaba, Shuichi, Maeda, Yoshiaki, Nawata, Hajime, Muta, Koichiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis B - complications; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; hepatitis C virus; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - etiology; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - pathology; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - virology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; Prevalence
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1746.2001.02406.x

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are not only hepatotropic, but also lymphotropic viruses. Recently, some reports suggested that these viruses may participate in the development of malignant lymphoproliferative disorders. Methods: We investigated the prevalence of HCV or HBV infection in 348 patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We also compared these prevalences with those in blood donors as a control group representing the general population in our area (n = 1 513 358). Next, we evaluated the clinical and pathologic characteristics of HCV‐ or HBV‐infected NHL cases. Non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma was classified according to the Working Formulation classification. Results: Thirty‐seven cases (14.9%) were found to be infected with HCV or HBV; of these, 20 (8.1%) were infected with HCV, and 17 (6.9%) with HBV. In male NHL patients, the rate of HCV infection was significantly higher than in an age‐ and sex‐matched population in the same area (P < 0.001, Mantel– Haenszel test). The rate of HBV infection also tended to be higher in the population (P = 0.0551). In contrast, in female NHL patients, the rate of HCV or HBV infection was not higher than in the general population. In HCV‐infected cases, 15 cases (75%) had B‐cell NHL and 16 cases (80%) were classified as being in the intermediate grade; B‐cell NHL comprised 83% of all NHL cases. In HBV‐infected NHL cases, 11 (65%) were of B‐cell type and 10 (58%) were classified as being in the intermediate grade. Conclusions: The high prevalence of HCV or HBV infections in our study population provides epidemiologic evidence suggesting that HCV and HBV infections may be involved in the development of a subgroup of NHL in males. Our investigation also revealed that both HCV‐ and HBV‐infected NHL patients showed certain similarities in clinical and pathologic manifestations.