[Elevation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-DNA in the peripheral blood of a patient with age-related EBV-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder].

ABSTRACT

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with fever and right neck lymphadenopathy. A neck lymph node biopsy was performed. In the specimens, immunoblasts were present with an admixture of small T lymphocytes and macrophagocytes. Immunohistochemcal staining of immunoblasts was positive for CD20, CD30 and EBER. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serology showed elevated IgG antibody to VCA, and EBV DNA was detected in the peripheral blood. Since he showed latency II without immunodeficiency disease, we diagnosed age-related EBV-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV-LPD) as a result of aging and EBV infection. He was treated with 6 courses of the CHOP regimen plus rituximab, and achieved complete remission. EBV-DNA became undetectable at remission. In age-related EBV-LPD, there is some possibility that EBV-DNA in the peripheral blood is valuable as a tumor biomarker.