[ frequency of Epstein-Barr Virus [EBV] expression in various histological subtypes of Hodgkin's lymphoma]

ABSTRACT

The incidence of Hodgkin's Lymphoma [HL] shows marked heterogenecity according to age, gender, race, geographical state, socioeconomic position and histological subtypes. Recently, multiple studies in different countries have been applied by newer technologies such as Immunohistochemistry [IHC] and polymerase chain reaction [PCR], being more familiar with the pathogenesis of this neoplasm. The Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] is detected with high incidence in HL cases, approximately 40-50% in developed countries and much more [up to 95% of cases] in developing countries. There is evidences that mixed cellularity [MC] Hodgkin's Lymphoma is more likely to be EBV-associated which is against association of nodular sclerosis [NS] subtype. With regard to the geographical location of Iran and absence of similar documented research in our knowledge, it is needed to perform studies like this. This study was done by IHC method with antibody against latent membrane protein-1 [LMP-1] antigen of EBV for assessment of relationship between EBV infection and parameters such as age, gender and histological subtype. We collected 30 paraffin section samples of classic HL and positive cytoplasmic reactivity of Reed-Steinberg [RS] cells was evaluated. From 30 cases surveyed in this study only 2 cases were not immunoreactive for EBV marker of which both were NS subtype in two adult males. We confirm frequency of 93% EBV associated HL in our cases, and also confirm the above histological subtype distribution, and that childhood cases are more likely to be EBV-associated than adult cases. There is possible female predominance of EBV associated HL. This survey as a pilot study needs further studies with more cases for distinct confirmation. It seems that EBV is a strong etiologic factor especially in developing countries like Iran and in childhood cases