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GBV‐C/hepatitis G virus infection and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma: a case control study
Author(s) -
Krajden Mel,
Yu Amanda,
Braybrook Heather,
Lai Agnes S.,
Mak Annie,
Chow Ron,
Cook Darrel,
Tellier Raymond,
Petric Martin,
Gascoyne Randy D.,
Connors Joseph M.,
BrooksWilson Angela R.,
Gallagher Richard P.,
Spinelli John J
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.25035
Subject(s) - viremia , lymphoma , odds ratio , medicine , gb virus c , hepatitis c virus , genotyping , genotype , flaviviridae , gastroenterology , confidence interval , immunology , virus , biology , biochemistry , gene
Abstract We investigated whether there was an association between GBV‐C viremia and the development of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in 553 NHL cases and 438 controls from British Columbia, Canada. Cases were aged 20–79, diagnosed between March 2000 and February 2004, and resident in Greater Vancouver or Victoria. Cases and controls were tested for GBV‐C RNA by RT‐PCR and positive samples were genotyped. Overall, GBV‐C RNA was detected in 4.5% of NHL cases vs . 1.8% of controls [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22–6.69]. The association between GBV‐C RNA detection and NHL remained even after individuals with a history of prior transfusion, injection drug use and hepatitis C virus sero‐positivity were excluded. GBV‐C viremia showed the strongest association with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (adjusted OR = 5.18, 95% CI = 2.06–13.71). Genotyping was performed on 29/33 GBV‐C RNA positive individuals; genotypes 2a ( n = 22); 2b ( n = 5) and 3 ( n = 2) were identified, consistent with the distribution of genotypes found in North America. This is the largest case‐control study to date associating GBV‐C viremia and NHL risk. As GBV‐C is known to be transmitted through blood products this may have important implications for blood safety.