Hepatitis C virus and deep abdominal lymphadenopathy [Hepatit C virus enfeksiyonu ve derin abdominal lenfadenopati]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) shares homology with flavi-and pestiviruses, which are known to infect cells of the reticuloendothelial system. HCV is able to infect and replicate within peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the host. It has been shown that HCV-related chronic liver disease is associated with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (i.e. mixed cryoglobulinemia and monoclonal gammopathy). Recent data suggest the existence of an association between HCV infection and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Enlargement of deep abdominal lymph nodes has been detected by ultrasound in various chronic liver disorders. To assess the relevance of this feature in chronic hepatitis C, we prospectively evaluated 58 patients with biopsy-proven chronic liver disease (38 chronic hepatitis C, 50 chronic hepatitis B). Ultrasonographic examination showed deep abdominal lymph node enlargement in 13% (5/38) of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, but not in the patients with HBV (p<0.05). These results suggest that HCV might exhibit a type of lymphotropism but the clinical significance of abdominal adenopathy is still unclear.