title: Determination of frequency of epstein-barr virus in non- Hodgkin lymphomas Using EBV latent membrane protein 1 (EBV-LMP1) immunohistochemical staining.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can be identified by immunohistochemistry for detection of EBV latent membrane protein (LMP). The role of EBV as an etiologic agent in the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has been supported by detection of high levels of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) expression in tumors. However, no study has been conducted in a Pakistani population up till now to determine the frequency of Epstein-Barr virus positivity. The objective of our study was to determine a value for non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients using EBV LMP-1 immunostaining in our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out at the Department of Histopathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Pakistan from December 2011 to December 2012. It was a cross sectional study. A total of 71 patients who were diagnosed with various subtypes of NHL after histological and EBV LMP-1 immunohistochemical evaluation were studied. Sampling technique was non-probability purposive. Statistical analysis was achieved using SPSS version 17.0. Mean and SD were calculated for quantitative variables like patient age. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for qualitative variables like subgroup of NHL, results outcome of IHC for EBV and gender distribution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of the patients was 53.6 ± 16 years (Mean ± SD). A total of 50 (70.4%) were male and 21 (29.6%) were female. Some 9 (12.7%) out of 71 cases were positive for EBV-LMP-1 immunostaining, 2 (22.2%) follicular lymphoma cases, 1 (11.1%) case of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, 4 (44.4%) cases of diffuse large B cell lymphomas, 1 (11.1%) mantle cell lymphoma and 1 (11.1%) angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, frequency of EBV in NHL is 12.7% and is mostly seen in diffuse large B cell lymphoma. This requires further evaluation to find out whether this positivity is due to co-infection or has a role in pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sheeba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishtiaq
authors.forename: Usman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Sajid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.forename: Noreen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akhtar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins