RESUMO
This study included 25 newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL] patients who fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the study. Hepatitis profile was done for NHL patients at the time of diagnosis and after three months of chemotherapy and for ten healthy persons who were selected as a control group. In addition to the routine lab investigations, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], B2 microglobulin and hepatitis markers were done before each cycle of chemotherapy. The study revealed a high percentage of NCV infection in patients with NHL [36%] in comparison with the control group [10%]. Patients with positive serological markers were liable to hepatic dysfunction and hepatitis reactivation during and after the end of chemotherapy. The presence of the hepatitis infection did not affect the response to chemotherapy in this group of patients. However 3/5 of the relapsed patients were HCV +ve. The results of serum gamma transferase [GGT] before treatment with chemotherapy in patients who were positive and negative to HCV showed very highly significant difference