Hepatitis B virus–associated diffuse large B cell lymphoma: epidemiology, biology, clinical features and HBV reactivation

Abstract Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of lymphoma in adults with high heterogeneity. Recent studies have manifested that the occurrence and development of DLBCL is related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. As a medium-to-high prevalence area of HBV infection in China, the importance and exact mechanism of HBV infection in the occurrence of DLBCL have attracted considerable attention. HBV-associated DLBCL has unique clinical characteristics, poor treatment effect and inferior prognosis. HBV reactivation caused by DLBCL treatment also needs for constant vigilance. In this review we summarize the current research progress in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, HBV reactivation and antiviral therapies of HBV-associated DLBCL, in order to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.