Epstein-Barr virus as a possible etiologic agent in primary central nervous system lymphoma in immunocompetent individuals.
BACKGROUND
Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) occurs in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals. The role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in immunosuppressed individuals but its role is not established in immunocompetent individuals.


OBJECTIVE
To study the possible role of EBV in PCNSL in immunocompetent individuals.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Thirty patients with PCNSL were studied immunohistochemically with antibodies to CD45, CD20, CD3 and EBV latent membrane protein-1 (EBV LMP-1). In situ hybridization was done in 19 patients where enough tissue was available using a specific oligonucleotide probe for EBV-Early RNA (EBER).


RESULTS
All the patients were immunocompetent and mean age was 41.6 years. Histologically they were diffuse large cell lymphoma: 25 (83.3%) were B cell, 1(3.3%) was T cell and 4 (13.3%) were unclassified. EBV LMP-1 showed variable membrane and cytoplasmic positivity in 24 (80%) patients. In situ hybridization for EBER was negative in all the 19 patients studied.


CONCLUSIONS
In this region of the world probably EBV has no etiologic role in PCNSL in immunocompetent individuals.
Tandon
Ashwani
A
Department of Pathology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad - 500 082. Andhra Pradesh, India. challa_sundaram@yahoo.com
Challa
Sundaram
S
Shanmugam
M
M
Gopalan
Swarnalatha
S
Paul
Roshni T
RT
Digumarthi
Raghunadharao
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D017931:DNA Primers