The prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in sample of Iraqi Patients With Non -Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Qudus Wamidh Jamal
Dept. of Microbiology, College of medicine ,AL-Nahrain University
Correspondence Address:
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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Background : Non -Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) are monoclonal proliferation of lymphoid cells that may be of B-cell (70%) or T-cell (30%) origin and include many discrete entities with characteristic morphological ,immunophenotypical , genetical and clinical features . Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a hepatotropic and lymphotropic virus, several studies showed that HCV may chronically infect patients with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma with or without producing liver damage.
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Iraqi patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and to compare with two control group healthy control and patients had general medical illnesses (unhealthy).
Material and method : A prospective case control study included 40 Iraqi patients with NHL. They were tested for the presence of anti-HCV using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Positive results were subjected to confirmatory test using Recombinant Immunoblot Assay (RIBA).The diagnosis of NHL cases was confirmed by two consultants histopathologist and they were classified according to the Working formulation system (WF) .Two control groups was applied ; the first included 250 healthy individuals who were age and sex matched while the second group included 50 patients suffering from general medical diseases who were age and sex matched.
Result: Four out of 40 patients with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (10%) were positive for anti-HCV, whereas only 1out of 250 healthy individuals (0.4%) were positive for HCV and no patient was positive in the unhealthy control group.
Conclusion : The current study revealed the high prevalence of HCV infection in Iraqi patients with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma compared to the healthy and unhealthy control groups which support the lymphogenetic role of chronic HCV infection in the pathogenesis of NHL.
