BACKGROUND: An association exists between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but a causal relationship is not fully established. HCV is a lymphotropic virus that represents a major etiologic agent of mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) type II which is characterized by a low-grade B cell clonal lymphoproliferative disorder that usually progresses to a more aggressive malignant lymphoma. This study assessed the role of cryoglobulin and B lymphocyte stimulator (BLys) in the pathogenesis of NHL in chronic HCV patients. METHODS: Sixty HCV patients, 30 free of B cell NHL (group I) and 30 with B cell NHL (group II), and 30 healthy controls (group III) were studied. Qualitative cryoglobulin assessment and a quantitative assay for BLys were done. RESULTS: In group II, BLyS positivity rate was 1.5-fold higher than of group I (p ≤ 0.01). A positive association was found between positivity rate of MC and the level of BLyS (p ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION: High BLyS levels were associated with HCV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder coupled with positive MC.
BACKGROUND: An association exists between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but a causal relationship is not fully established. HCV is a lymphotropic virus that represents a major etiologic agent of mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) type II which is characterized by a low-grade B cell clonal lymphoproliferative disorder that usually progresses to a more aggressive malignant lymphoma. This study assessed the role of cryoglobulin and B lymphocyte stimulator (BLys) in the pathogenesis of NHL in chronic HCVpatients. METHODS: Sixty HCVpatients, 30 free of B cell NHL (group I) and 30 with B cell NHL (group II), and 30 healthy controls (group III) were studied. Qualitative cryoglobulin assessment and a quantitative assay for BLys were done. RESULTS: In group II, BLyS positivity rate was 1.5-fold higher than of group I (p ≤ 0.01). A positive association was found between positivity rate of MC and the level of BLyS (p ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION: High BLyS levels were associated with HCV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder coupled with positive MC.
Authors: M Fabris; L Quartuccio; S Sacco; G De Marchi; G Pozzato; C Mazzaro; G Ferraccioli; T S Migone; S De Vita Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2006-05-30 Impact factor: 7.580
Authors: G Pozzato; O Burrone; K Baba; M Matsumoto; M Hijiiata; Y Ota; L Mazzoran; S Baracetti; F Zorat; S Mishiro; D G Efremov Journal: J Hepatol Date: 1999-06 Impact factor: 25.083
Authors: Silvia de Sanjose; Yolanda Benavente; Claire M Vajdic; Eric A Engels; Lindsay M Morton; Paige M Bracci; John J Spinelli; Tongzhang Zheng; Yawei Zhang; Silvia Franceschi; Renato Talamini; Elizabeth A Holly; Andrew E Grulich; James R Cerhan; Patricia Hartge; Wendy Cozen; Paolo Boffetta; Paul Brennan; Marc Maynadié; Pierluigi Cocco; Ramon Bosch; Lenka Foretova; Anthony Staines; Nikolaus Becker; Alexandra Nieters Journal: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2008-04 Impact factor: 11.382