High prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus associated B-cell lymphoma in Mansoura Region (Egypt), ANRS 12263 study

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The prevalence of Hepatitis C virus in Egypt reaches 15%, which is considered the highest in the world. Genotype 4 represents 93 % of Egyptian HCV infections. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the 5th most common cancer in Egypt. The association between HCV infection and occurrence of B-cell NHL is well known while data are scarce in Eastern countries. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection among patients with B-cell NHL and the clinical characteristics of HCV associated B-cell NHL in Delta region (Mansoura-Egypt). Methods: Between March 2012 and March 2013, 110 adult patients newly diagnosed with B-cell NHL were enrolled in the current study. This study was carried out at Oncology Center, Mansoura University. Study subjects provided serum for HCV testing and for HCV RNA. Results: The prevalence of HCV infection among these patients was 61% (67/110 patients) which is the highest reported value in literature. Among them, 80% (32/40 tested patients) presented with viremia. Contrasting with the histological distribution previously described in Northern regions, the majority of HCV associated lymphomas were DLBCLs (72 %) followed by SLL/CLL (13 %), follicular lymphomas (7.5%) and 7.5% of marginal zone lymphomas. In conclusion:  B-cell lymphomas are highly associated with HCV infection in Egypt. Further developments are needed to give access to antiviral treatment for those patients in Delta region.