OBJECTIVETo analyze the status of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients.

METHODSThe serum HBV markers in NHL patients were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The infection rate of HBV in NHL patients was compared with that in nationwide general population.

RESULTSThe positive rates of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc in 405 cases of NHL were 11.6%, 39.8% and 47.9%, respectively, which were statistically different from those in general population (P < 0.01). The positive rates of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc in B-cell NHL and T-cell NHL were 13.3% vs 7.1% (P = 0.083), 40.6% vs 37.5% (P = 0.567), 53.2% vs 33.9% (P = 0. 001), respectively. The HBV DNA positive rate was 23.7% in 93 cases of NHL, and was 50.0% in 38 cases of HBsAg-positive NHL while 5.5% in 55 cases of HBsAg-negative but HBcAb-positive NHL.

CONCLUSIONSThe infection rate of HBV in NHL patients is higher than that in general population, in which occult hepatitis B virus infection can not be ignored. The positive rate of anti-HBc in B-cell NHL is significantly higher than that in T-cell NHL. For NHL patients infected with HBV, prophylactic anti-HBV therapy to prevent viral reactivation should be given before the anti-cancer treatment. Further study in the relationship between HBV and NHL should be carried out in the future.