Increased anti–Epstein—Barr virus antibodies in epidermotropic cutaneous T–cell lymphoma: a study of 64 patients

✍ Scribed by O. JUMBOU; C. MOLLAT; J.M. N'GUYEN; S. BILLAUDEL; P. LITOUX; B. DRÉNO

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 398 KB
• Volume: 136
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-0963
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1997.d01-1171.x

✦ Synopsis

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.