HCV prevalence in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In this study we aimed to investigate the relation between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and B cell lymphoproliferative diseases. METHODS: Eighty-four patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 50 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma were included. Control group consisted of another 100 otherwise healthy blood donors who had no previous history of invasive surgery, blood transfusions, and viral hepatitis. HCV positivity was investigated in both case groups and control group. RESULTS: Anti-HCV positivity was significantly more frequent in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients compared to control group (7.1% vs. 1%, p<0.05). In Hodgkin lymphoma patients however, frequency was comparable with the control group (2% vs. 1%, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that HCV may play a role in the development of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but not in Hodgkin lymphoma.