HAIRY LEUKOPLAKIA AFTER BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

Hairy leukoplakia in 10 patients after bone marrow transplantation was identified clinically and assessed histologically. In situ hybridizat ion for Epstein-Barr virus and human papilloma virus confirmed Epstein -Barr virus in hairy leukoplakia in two cases, and human papillomaviru s in three cases. All cases with clinical follow-up resolved without t reatment. These findings suggest that severe immunosuppression after a bone marrow transplantation may result in the development of hairy le ukoplakia, and that as the immunosuppression resolves after the transp lant the lesions also resolve.