Le virus d'Epstein-Barr et les proliférations lymphoïdes

Abstract

The increased risk of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disorders is due to the more frequent occurrence of immunodeficiency after immunosuppressive treatment or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Furthermore highly sensitive EBV detection methods are applied, such as in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. Besides African Burkitt's lymphoma and post transplant lymphoproliferative disorders associated with EBV in more than 90 % of cases, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related lymphomas represent a unique entity. Their association with EBV range from 10 to 100 % of cases according to morphology and site. Recently, EBV has been detected in some T-cell lymphomas and in Hodgkin's disease in immunocompetent hosts. The analysis antiEBV immune responses, of latent and replicative viral gene expression, of EBV infected cell phenotype, and of genotypic changes will allow a better understanding of the role of EBV in lymphomagenesis.