On May 8, 2007, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reported that people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are at an increased risk of developing certain lymphomas (cancers of the lymphatic system). Researchers found that HCV infection increased the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by 20% to 30%.

The risk of developing Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) went up by 300% and the risk for cryoglobulinemia, a form of blood vessel inflammation, was also elevated for those with HCV infections.