Related Experiment Videos
EBV-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developing after phenytoin therapy
J Garcia-Suarez1, P Dominguez-Franjo, F Del Campo
1Department of Haematology, Principe de Asturias University Hospital, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
We report the first case of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurring 20 years after continuous phenytoin therapy for idiopathic epilepsy. This malignant lymphoproliferative disease was preceded by an phenytoin-associated benign reactive lymphadenopathy. Serological findings suggested a chronic active EBV infection. Immunohistochemistry showed that neoplastic cells expressed B antigens (CD20, lambda) and the bcl-2 protein. The presence of EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP 1) was also expressed on neoplastic cells. Cytotoxic chemotherapy (CHOP) reversed the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.