Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Br J Haematol. 1994 Oct;88(2):392-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1994.tb05036.x.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is both a hepatotropic and a lymphotropic virus, has been proposed as a possible causative agent of mixed cryoglobulinaemia. This 'benign' lymphoproliferative disorder can switch over to a malignant B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Therefore HCV infection has been investigated in a series of 50 unselected Italian patients with B-cell NHL. Antibodies against HCV were found in 30% of NHL and HCV viraemia in 32% of cases. HCV-related markers were detected in 34% (17/50) of our NHL patients; this prevalence is particularly significant when compared with HCV seropositivity in Hodgkin's lymphoma (3%) and healthy controls (1.3%).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / virology*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged