804 Epstein-Barr virus and Hodgkin's disease: Comparison between Algerian and French patients

• Published in: European journal of cancer (1990) Vol. 31; p. S168
• Main Authors: Zerhouni, F., Belkaïd, M.I., Beldjord, K., Brière, J., Andrieu, M., Colonna, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.1995
• ISSN: 0959-8049; 1879-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/0959-8049(95)96053-G

The prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) markers in nodal lesions from Algerians (AI) patients (n = 68) was compared to French (Fr) patients (Pts) (n = 21) with Hodgkin's disease. Initial characteristics were: males Fr 57%, AI 53%; median age Fr 29, AI 25; histologic subtypes: lymphocytic predominance (LP) Fr I, AI 3; nodular sclerosis (NS) Fr 16, AI 33; mixed cellularity (MC) Fr 4, AI 30; lymphocytic depletion (LD) A12. The latent membrane protein (LMP) expression was founded in Reed-Sternberg cells (RSC) in 26 cases AI (I PL, 8 NS, 17 MC) and 4 Fr (2 NS, 2 MC). All cases LMP-positive were also by DNAor RNA in situ hybridization (ISH). ISH was positive in RSC of 29% of Fr and 66% of AI Pts ( P < 0.02); the positivity was more frequent in MC (80%) than in other histologic types (39%). EBV genome was detected by PCR on DNA in 84% of Fr and 95% of AI patients (100% of MC and 86% of other histologic types). More pronounced ISH positivity in AI young adult cases ( P < 0.05) can result from the age at primary EBV infection, which occurs earlier in Algeria than in France.