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OBJECTIVE: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated
with many hematopoietic malignancies including Hodgkin's disease
(HD). The association of HD correlates with the histologic
subtype, age of presentation and geographic location. Our aims
were to find out if EBV is associated with Jordanian HD;
and if EBV association exists, to determine its relationship to
certain age groups or specific histologic subtypes of HD; and
finally to establish whether such association follows patterns
seen in developing or developed countries.
METHODS: We have examined 64 cases of HD diagnosed in 2
major medical centers in Jordan for evidence of EBV
association. We used immunohistochemistry and in-situ
hybridization techniques to detect latent membrane protein
(LMP-1) and Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER) in the
Reed-Sternberg cells. The study was conducted at the Department
of Pathology, Jordan University of Science
and Technology, Irbid, Jordan in the years 2000 and 2001.
RESULTS: Epstein Barr virus was seen in 47% of our cases:
22 (65%) of the 34 mixed cellularity and 8 (29%) of 28 nodular
sclerosis HD. None of our 2 lymphocyte predominant HD cases
showed evidence of EBV. Epstein-Barr virus was seen in 73% of HD
cases in children below 15 years of age as opposed to 34% of the
young adult group.
CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the presence of EBV in
Jordanian HD in approximately half of the cases, a figure
close to those reported in the West. Epstein-Barr virus
association with HD in Jordan is seen mostly in the mixed
cellularity subtype and childhood HD.
Institution
Department of Pathology, Jordan University of
Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. nal-masri@saad.com.sa
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