Case-Control Study of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Egypt
Publication Date
10-1-2004
Document Type
Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been associated in some studies with increased risk for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). To assess this further, we conducted a case-control study in Egypt, where HCV prevalence is extremely high. METHODS: Cases with B-cell NHL (N = 227) were recruited from the National Cancer Institute of Cairo University, a major referral centre. Controls (N = 227) were patients with fractures being treated at the Kasr El-Aini Orthopaedic Hospital, from the same referral base as the cases, and were frequency-matched by gender, rural versus urban birthplace, and age. Subjects were interviewed about their medical history and possible risk factors, and blood samples were collected for HCV diagnostic tests. Anti-HCV and HCV RNA were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI were calculated from logistic regression models. RESULTS: Overall, 42% of subjects were anti-HCV positive and 33% had HCV RNA. There was a statistically significant unadjusted association of HCV RNA with NHL (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.5, 3.5), which differed slightly by gender (males: OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.7 versus females: OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3, 4.8). Anti-HCV without HCV RNA was not associated with case status (OR = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.5, 1.6). After adjustment for age, gender, rural versus urban birthplace, and rural versus urban current residence, the association of HCV RNA with the risk of NHL remained statistically significant (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.9, 4.5). CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that NHL is a malignant outcome of chronic HCV infection.
Publication Title
International Journal of Epidemiology
Volume
33
Issue
5
First Page
1034
Last Page
1039
DOI
10.1093/ije/dyh183
Publisher Policy
open access
Recommended Citation
Cowgill, Karen D.; Loffredo, Christopher A.; Eissa, Soheir Abdel-Latif; Mokhtar, Nadia; Abdel-Hamid, Mohamed; Fahmy, Ahmed; and Strickland, G. Thomas, "Case-Control Study of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Egypt" (2004). SIAS Faculty Publications. 607.
https://digitalcommons.tacoma.uw.edu/ias_pub/607
