Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA sequences in bone marrow of children with leukemia

Abstract

To investigate the possibility that hemopoietic cells may become infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), viral DNA was studied by molecular hybridization in bone marrow aspirates of 51 children with leukemia. HBV‐DNA was found in the bone marrow of eight children (15%) and Southern blot analysis revealed the presence of free, monomeric viral sequences. Only one of the eight children with HBV‐DNA in bone marrow cells was HBsAg‐positive in serum, whereas two additional patients were transiently HBsAg‐positive in serum during follow‐up, but were negative at the time HBV‐DNA was found in bone marrow. Four other cases developed antibodies to HBV. Cases of myeloid leukemia were more frequently positive for HBV‐DNA in bone marrow (55%), compared with cases of lymphoid leukemia (7%). These results indicate that hemopoietic cells are susceptible to infection with hepatitis B virus and stimulate new interest into the relation of HBV infection to the development of some forms of leukemia, as four of eight cases of myeloid leukemia were HBV‐DNA positive in bone marrow aspirates at diagnosis, prior to receiving any transfusion therapy. Cancer 59:292–296, 1987. Copyright © 1987 American Cancer Society