The association of latent Epstein-Barr virus infection with hydroa vacciniforme

Patients with hydroa vacciniforme (HV)-like eruptions and malignant potenti al have been reported from Asia and Mexico, and those patients frequently h ad an associated latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In order to elu cidate the association of latent EBV infection with HV; we studied six chil dren with typical manifestations of HV by detection of EBV genes and EBV-re lated RNAs in biopsy specimens from cutaneous lesions, Cutaneous lesions of all six children with typical HV contained EBV-encoded small nuclear RNA ( EBER)+ cells in 3-10% of the dermal infiltrates, whereas no Bam HI-H, 1-fra gment (BHLF) mRNA, or transcripts encoding EA-D antigen, were detected, No EBER + cells were detected in other inflammatory or benign lymphoproliferat ive skin disorders tested. Polymerase chain reaction amplification confirme d the presence of EBV DNA sequences in five of six biopsy specimens from th e patients. Latent EBV infection is associated with the development of cuta neous lesions of HV.