Increased anti-Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in epidermotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: a study of 64 patients.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is often associated with non-Hodgkin's T-cell lymphomas and has recently been found in the lesions of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. We sought to determine whether the anti-EBV antibody profile was disturbed in mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome and whether there are particular profiles characteristic of disease stage. Anti-EBV antibodies (anti-VCA, -EA and -EBNA) were studied in the sera of 64 patients. An immunoenzymatic technique was used, and the results were compared with the same number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Patients with mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome developed higher anti-VCA antibody titres (median 1200) than controls (median 320). Thirty-seven patients had anti-VCA > or = 1200 vs. 19 controls (P < 0.01). These elevated anti-VCA antibody titres were associated with positive EA in 19 patients versus three controls. No differences were found between the illness stages. Anti-EBV antibodies were most often found in mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome when the serological profile was similar to that of cellular immune deficiencies and EBV-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. EBV could be involved, either directly on lymphocytes or, more likely, indirectly by chronic antigenic stimulation.
Jumbou
O
O
Department of Dermatology, Hôtel Dieu, Nantes, France.
Mollat
C
C
N'Guyen
J M
JM
Billaudel
S
S
Litoux
P
P
Dréno
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen