Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

BACKGROUND: TO know the prevalence of HCV infection in patients diagnosed w ith B-NHL in our area. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A group Of patients diagnosed with B-NHL between 1998- 99 were carefully reviewed (serological tests, HCV RNA, laboratory studies, toxicity, response to treatment and evolution) in a transversal study. RESULTS: Overall 9/77 (11.68%) Of patients tested positive for HCV. Of the 9 patients HCV(+) showed abnormal elevated transaminases in opposition with 10.3% of patients that tested seronegative. CONCLUSION: Compared with normal individuals, we have seen a higher prevale nce of HCV in our S-NHL patients. It may be possible that HCV play a role i n that lymphoma's pathogenesis.