HODGKIN DISEASE OCCURRING IN A PATIENT WITH EXTREMELY HIGH SERUM ANTIBODY-TITERS TO EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS WITHOUT CHRONIC ILLNESS

Purpose: We described for the first time a patient with long-lasting, extremely high serum antibody titer against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) v iral capsid antigen and early antigen without clinical symptoms sugges tive of active EBV infection; the patient finally developed Hodgkin di sease (HD) after 7 years of follow-up. Patient and Methods: High serum EBV antibody titers were noted at 2 years of age. Immunological evalu ation was performed at the age of 7 years. EBV-specific cytotoxic T-ly mphocyte activity was normal. None of the other results showed any sig nificant abnormalities except for the abnormal antibody titers against EBV-associated antigens. Results: The patient developed HD at the age of 9 years. In addition, EBV genomes were found in the nuclei of Hodg kin and Reed-Sternberg cells in the lymph node. Conclusions: This case suggests that (a) a patient with extremely high serum antibody titers against EBV-associated antigens may develop HD after a prolonged peri od, even though no clinical symptom suggestive of active EBV infection is observed; (b) EBV may play an important role in the occurrence of HD.