Epstein-Barr Virus Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP-1) in Hodgkin's Lymphoma Patients in Turkey

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated as a contributing factor in the development of Hodgkin's lymphoma. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association of Hodgkin's lymphoma with EBV in a Turkish population using immunohistochemical detection of LMP-1. We studied a total of 21 consecutive cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma from Turkey. LMP-1 protein was detected in 9 of 21 (42.8%) cases. LMP-1 was positive in 4 of 7 (57%) mixed cellularity and 5 of 13 (38.4%) nodular sclerosis subtype. The results of the current study suggests a strong association of Epstein-Barr virus with Hodgkin's lymphoma in Turkey and, together with those reported previously showed that Epstein-Barr virus correlated with mixed cellular type, with a slight male predominancy while there was no correlation with age.