[Epstein-Barr virus and Hodgkin's lymphoma]

The suspicion that Hodgkin's lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin's disease, may have an infectious etiology has existed for many years. The assumption rests on epidemiological characteristics, in particular a strong correlation between socio-economic status and risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma in young adults, as well as both serological and molecular biological evidence that the Epstein-Barr virus is involved in the development of up to 50% of all cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma. We present the current epidemiological, serological and molecular biological evidence for an infectious etiology to Hodgkin's lymphoma with emphasis on the association with Epstein-Barr virus.