Hodgkin's disease in siblings: a family study

Hodgkin's disease may sporadically occur in more than one member of a family. A family in which two siblings were documented to have the nodular sclerosing form of the disease was studied for immunological competency, distribution of HL-A antigens, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody titers. All family members examined, except the living individual with HD, had no significant abnormality in humoral and cellular immunity. HL-A antigens previously reported to appear in Hodgkin's disease with increased frequency were not found. Antibody titers to the viral capsid antigen of EBV were normal. Therefore, none of the genetically associated laboratory tests related to cancer (particularly Hodgkin's disease) were found in this family. The evidence from this family thus supports the probable importance of environmental factors in the etiology of Hodgkin's disease, particularly in the nodular sclerosis group.