Background: Clinical data document the connection between
hepatitis C virus (HCV) and B cell proliferative. Monoclonal B
lymphocytosis (MBL) is an asymptomatic condition characterized
by the presence in the peripheral blood of a clonal Bcell
population which might evolve into malignant B cell lymphoproliferative
disease, like chronic lymphocytic leukemia or indulant B
cell lymphoma. The underlying association between HCV and
MBL is not yet understood. Aim of the work: To evaluate the
presence of monoclonal B lymphocytosis in patients with chronic
hepatitis C with various activity and severity according to
METAVIR Scoring System. Methods: The study included one
hundred patients with chronic HCV infection and forty healthy
controls. Liver biopsy was done for patient's group and analyzed
according to METAVIR Scoring System. Flow cytometric analysis
for B-cell monoclonal lymphocytosis was done for both patients
and control groups. Results: MBL were identified in 24/100
(24%) in patients with chronic HCV at significantly higher frequency
versus in the control group 3/40 (7.5%). No significant difference
regarding MBL was found between early (F1-F2) and late (F3-F4)
fibrosis subgroups; however, MBL expression was significantly
higher in A1 when compared to A2 and A3 activity grads.
Concerning laboratory data there was no significant difference
between patients with MBL and patients without MBL apart from
significant increase in total leucocyte count in patients without
MBL. Also the age was significantly increased in MBL positive
patients versus MBL negative patients. Conclusions: B-cell
monoclonal lymphocytosis showed significant increase in HCV
infected patients more than in the general population. No
significant differences in MBL expression between early and
advanced fibrosis stage however, MBL expression was
significantly higher in A1 versus A2 and A3activety grads.