HEPATITIS-C VIRUS AND NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS

Citation
G. Pozzato et al., HEPATITIS-C VIRUS AND NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS, Leukemia & lymphoma, 22(1-2), 1996, pp. 53-60
Citations number
88
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Review
Categorie Soggetti
Hematology
Journal title
ISSN journal
1042-8194
Volume
22
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1996
Pages
53 - 60
Database
ISI
SICI code
1042-8194(1996)22:1-2<53:HVAN>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
The etiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) remains a controversial matter, but, in the last few years, considerable evidence suggests tha t aberrations of the immune system and viruses may act as etiologic ag ents, in at least some cases of NHL. In fact, patients with primary im muno-deficiencies, or those suffering from diseases characterized by a utoimmune dysfunction, show an increased risk for the development of N HL. Several viruses have been identified as possible etiologic agents for NHL; one of the best studied is the Epstein-Barr virus, which was detected in cultures of tumor cells from patients with Burkitt's lymph oma. The pathogenetic potential of this virus is illustrated by it's a ssociation with an increasing number of malignant diseases. In additio n, the human T-cell lymphotropic virus family (HTLV), was also recogni zed as possible etiologic agents for several lymphomas, such as cutane ous T-cell lymphoma and T-cell leukemia-lymphoma syndrome (HTLVI), and T-cell hairy cell leukemia (HTLV-II). Recently, the presence of hepat itis C virus infection has also been recognized in several hematologic al malignancies such as mixed cryoglobulinemia, low-grade malignant ly mphomas and Waldenstrom's disease. The possible etiopathogenethic role of this virus in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas is discussed on the basis of molecular, clinical, and epidemiological considerations.