TITLE:
Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma in a Patient with Positive Hepatitis B Virus Serology*
AUTHORS:
Qureshi Iman, Eden Dewi, Bokhari Syed
KEYWORDS:
Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma; Hepatitis B
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Blood Diseases,
Vol.3 No.4,
December
13,
2013
ABSTRACT: We present a
case in which an elderly woman diagnosed with a splenic marginal zone lymphoma
(MZL) was found to have positive Hepatitis B serology. Link with Hepatitis C
virus is well documented but reports of association of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) with splenic marginal zone lymphoma
are still emerging. A 69-year-old lady presented with weight loss, pancytopenia and
marked splenomegaly. Prior to commencing treatment, Hepatitis B serology
confirmed Hepatitis B infection. She was treated with Chlorambucil along with
anti-hepatitis B prophylaxis and HBV PCR monitoring. She had an excellent
response to treatment with resolution of symptoms and splenomegaly. This case
highlights the importance of testing for
hepatitis B serology in patients diagnosed with splenic MZLs as causative
agent. Although the association between HCV is
well documented in the literature, a relationship between HBV may also be important. Also, chemotherapy +/- Rituximab for splenic MZL is associated with the reactivation of latent
infections; hence providing prophylactic cover for pre-existing latent HBV infection may be
required to prevent reactivation as in this case.