High prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Marcucci, F.; Mele, A.; Spada, E.; Candido, A.; Bianco, E.; Pulsoni, A.; Chionne, P.; Madonna, E.; Cotichini, R.; Barbui, A.; De Renzo, A.; Dore, F.; Iannitto, E.; Liso, V.; Martino, B.; Montanaro, M.; Pagano, L.; Musto, P.; Rapicetta, M.
Haematologica 91(4): 554-557
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-6078 PMID: 16585021 Document Number: 604050
In this hospital-based, multicenter case-control study we investigated the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related markers and HBV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection among B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) cases and controls. Four hundred newly diagnosed B-NHL cases and 392 controls from other departments of the same hospitals were studied. The prevalence of positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was 8.5% among B-NHL cases and 2.8% among controls (adjusted odds ratio, 3.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.75-7.66). HBV/HCV co-infection was found in four cases, but in no controls. The finding of a positive association between HBV infection and B-NHL raises the possibility that HBV may play an etiologic role in the induction of B-NHL.