Detection of Epstein Barr Virus in Hodgkin's Disease in Trakya Region of Turkey; by in Situ Hybridization.

The relation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Hodgkin's disease (HD) has been suggested by serologic, epidemiological and molecular biologic studies. According to these studies the incidence of EBV in HD is high. In the present study, the EBV association with HD in Trakya Region of Turkey was investigated. We investigated the presence of EBV in 44 cases of HD. Fluorescein-labelled antisense EBV (EBER-RNA) was performed by in situ hybridization. There were 28 males and 16 females, with a mean age of 40 years (range 4-80 years). Histological subtypes included nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's disease (NSHD) in 18 (40.9%), mixed cellularity (MCHD) in 16 (36.4%), lymphocyte predominance (LPHD) in 7 (15.9%), and lymphocyte depletion (LDHD) in 3 (6.8%). EBV was expressed in 30 cases (68.2%). High EBV association was found with mixed cellularity 75% and nodular sclerosis 72.2%. In lymphocyte predominance and in lymphocyte depletion cases the EBV positivity was 57.1% and 33.3%, respectively. All of 7 cases, younger than 15 years old, were positive for EBV. HD in Trakya Region showed a high association with EBV as in developing countries. Our findings suggest that EBV plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HD in Turkey.