Epstein Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 in Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nigerians.
BACKGROUND
The burden of lymphomas on the health care system in Nigeria is enormous. Correct diagnosis and identification of aetiological factor are important steps in reducing this burden.


METHODS
Eight cases diagnosed as HL within a period of six years at the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria by haematoxylin and eosin (Hand E) only were immunophenotyped using the indirect immunoperoxidase method. Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1), CD15 and CD30 immunohistochemistry was also performed. The clinical characteristics of each patient were documented.


OBJECTIVE
To document the frequency of involvement of Epstein-Barr virus in cases of HL seen in a university hospital in Nigeria.


RESULTS
Out of the eight cases diagnosed by H&E as HL immunophenotyping showed only five were HL. The rest were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (2 diffuse large B-cell and 1 null cell ALCL). All were cases of classical HL with 60% being of the mixed cellularity (MC) subtype. There were 2 males and 3 females with ages ranging from 7 years to 40 years. All presented with cervical lymphadenopathy and three had splenomegaly in addition. 60% of the tumour was EBV positive, all of the MC subtype. Three patients had chemotherapy. Eventually all were lost to follow-up. There was no case of the nodular lymphocyte predominance variant.


CONCLUSIONS
Mixed cellularity is the most common subtype and is the only subtype associated with EBV positivity in this study. Epstein-Barr virus probably plays an important role in the aetiology of HL in Nigerians.
Adelusola
K A
KA
Department of Morbid Anatomy & Forensic Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. kadelman02@yahoo.com
Titiloye
N A
NA
Rotimi
O
O
Durosinmi
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins