EBV-Positive Lymphoproliferative Diseases: A New Concept and Differential Diagnosis (Literature Review and Case Reports)

АM Kovrigina

National Research Center for Hematology, 4 Novyi Zykovskii pr-d, Moscow, Russian Federation, 125167

For correspondence: Professor Alla Mikhailovna Kovrigina, PhD in Biology, 4 Novyi Zykovskii pr-d, Moscow, Russian Federation, 125167; e-mail: kovrigina.alla@gmail.com

For citation: Kovrigina AM. EBV-Positive Lymphoproliferative Diseases: A New Concept and Differential Diagnosis (Literature Review and Case Reports). Clinical oncohematology. 2018;11(4):326–37.

DOI: 10.21320/2500-2139-2018-11-4-326-337


ABSTRACT

In recent years increasing attention focuses on the concept of EBV-positive lymphoproliferative diseases related to primary or secondary immunodeficiency resulting from immunosuppressive therapy and persistent infections. Due to the progress of treatment methods in oncohematology and oncology this pathology also occurs as a delayed event when new surgical and therapeutic approaches are applied. The paper presents proof for the pathogenetic significance of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the pathology under consideration with its various clinical manifestations and describes the evolution of knowledge on posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders with their morphological classification underlying EBV+ lymphoproliferative diseases. The WHO Classification of Tumours of Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues revised in 2017 includes new forms of EBV+ lymphoproliferative diseases (mucocutaneous ulcer, T- and NK-cell childhood lymphoproliferative disorders including cutaneous and systemic forms of chronic active EBV infection) and EBV+ large B-cell lymphomas (unspecified and fibrin-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphomas). The paper summarizes major characteristics of these diseases and exemplifies them by the author’s own experience.

Keywords: B-, T-, NK-cell lymphoproliferative diseases, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), immunodeficiency, immune imbalance, immunosuppression, morphology, diagnosis.

Received: July 20, 2018

Accepted: September 25, 2018

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REFERENCES

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Epstein-Barr Virus in Patients with Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

VE Gurtsevitch, EA Demina, NB Senyuta, IV Botezatu, KV Smirnova, TE Dushen’kina, DM Maksimovich, UV Paramonova, IS Monin, AV Lichtenshtein

NN Blokhin National Medical Cancer Research Center, 24 Kashirskoye sh., Moscow, Russian Federation, 115478

For correspondence: Prof. Vladimir Eduardovich Gurtsevitch, MD, PhD, 24 Kashirskoye sh., Moscow, Russian Federation, 115478; Tel.: 8(499)324-25-64; e-mail: gurtsevitch-vlad-88@yandex.ru

For citation: Gurtsevitch VE, Demina EA, Senyuta NB, et al. Epstein-Barr Virus in Patients with Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Clinical oncohematology. 2018;11(2):160–6.

DOI: 10.21320/2500-2139-2018-11-2-160-166


ABSTRACT

Background. A close relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cHL) has been established in approximately 1/3 patients. EBV-positive lymphomas are characterized by increased level of EBV specific antibodies emerging long before tumor symptoms, аs well as a high plasma EBV DNA concentration. These viral markers normally correlate with clinical manifestations and the outcome of treatment performed. In patients with EBV-negative lymphomas, however, there has been no attempt to assess the clinical significance of either humoral response to EBV or EBV DNA concentration in plasma.

Aim. To evaluate diagnostic and prognostic significance of EBV markers in patients with EBV-negative lymphomas.

Methods. The clinical trial included 13 cHL-patients admitted at the Department of chemotherapy of hemoblastoses of NN Blokhin National Medical Cancer Research Center. The male to female ratio was 1:1.3, the median age was 26.4 years. Leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were evaluated in all the patients before, during, and after treatment as well as throughout the follow-up period. The same indicators were analysed in the control group which contained 40 healthy persons (with the median age of 41.1 years, male to female ratio 1.5:1). The study was based on serologic test for EBV antibodies and quantitative analysis of the viral DNA copy number in plasma.

Results. The obtained data show a low immunie response to EBV and its diminishment after several polychemotherapy treatment cycles, correlating with decreased leukocyte and lymphocyte levels. As opposed to levels of virus-specific antibodies which do not reflect the efficacy of anticancer therapy, plasma EBV DNA concentration in 2 patients decreased to 0 after remission had been achieved.

Conclusion. Although the number of observations is limited, one could suggest that viral load values in plasma of patients with EBV-negative lymphomas can prove to be a useful marker of anticancer therapeutic effect. Additional studies of these markers are required.

Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma, EBV DNA, EBV-negative classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma, level of virus-specific antibodies.

Received: November 13, 2017

Accepted: February 8, 2018

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