Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐associated antibody patterns in malignant lymphoma and leukemia. I. Hodgkin's disease

Abstract

Abstract Sera from Swedish patients with Hodgkin's disease as well as control sera from donors without known disease were titrated for antibodies to the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. In the same sera antibodies capable of blocking the direct membrane immunofluorescence reaction obtained between Epstein‐Barr virus carrying lymphoblastoid cell lines and a fluorescein‐conjugated reference serum from a patient with Burkitt's lymphoma (F‐Mutua conjugate) were tested. The serological reactivity of the control sera was very similar to that described in previous reports. In contrast, sera from Hodgkin's disease patients showed an increased reactivity in both tests. When the donors were grouped in relation to clinical and histological data of prognostic importance, an inverse relationship was found between the frequency of lymphoid cells and EBV‐associated serological reactivity. Whereas paragranuloma cases did not exceed the reactivity level of the controls, patients with Hodgkin's sarcoma were highly reactive in both tests, reaching levels comparable to those seen in Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The granuloma group was intermediate with regard to serological reactivity.