Abstract
Human herpesvirus (HHV‐6) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), are two ubiquitous human herpesviruses which share many common features although they belong to different sub‐families. In particular, both viruses are found in lymph nodes of patients suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma. The aim of this study was to detect and to quantify independently HHV‐6 and EBV by a real‐time PCR in lymph nodes from 86 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma. EBV quantitative method was compared with LMP‐1 protein detection among the same samples. EBV genome was detected for 61.6% of the patients (53/86) and the highest prevalence of this virus was observed in Hodgkin's lymphoma with mixed‐cellularity histopathological type (80%). In contrast to that, HHV‐6 genome was detected for 79.1% of the patients (68/86) and was most observed in the nodular‐sclerosis group (83.6%). Among the 68 HHV‐6 positive samples, 63 belonged to the B subtype. A large number of biopsies (47.7%) were positive for both viruses whereas a little number (7%) was negative for both. EBV quantitation and LMP‐1 immunohistochemistry were correlated statistically but this latter technique was less sensitive. Among the nodular‐sclerosis patients, HHV‐6−/EBV+ patients were significatively older than HHV‐6+/EBV− patients. Patients infected dually had higher values of quantitation for each virus than those positive for one virus. Data of the clinical follow‐up obtained by diagnosis and during the treatment of 83 patients, were correlated with the virological findings. J. Med. Virol. 79:1349–1356, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.