Increased risk of malignant lymphoma indicated by elevated Epstein-Barr virus antibodies--a prospective study.
We estimated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody-associated relative risks (RR) of malignant lymphoma/leukemia within a cohort of 39,000 healthy Finnish adults followed up for 12 years. Antibody analyses to EBV capsid antigen (VCA), early antigen (EA), and nuclear antigens (EBNA, EBNA1, and EBNA2) were based on concomitantly evaluated ELISA techniques. No increased risk was associated with mere EBV seropositivity. However, elevated EBV EA and EBNA antibody levels were associated with a statistically significant excess risk of malignant lymphoma/leukemia (RREA = 3.4, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-11.0; RREBNA = 4.5, CI = 1.2-16.9). These elevated antibody responses may be due either to destruction of neoplastic EBV positive B-cells and/or to activation of latent EBV infection early in the lymphomagenesis.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland.
T
T
Lehtinen
J
J
Lumio
J
J
Dillner
M
M
Hakama
P
P
Knekt
M
M
Lehtinen
L
L
Teppo
P
P
Leinikki
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007938:Leukemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen; C033305:Epstein-Barr virus early antigen