Association between Epstein-Barr virus and classic Hodgkin lymphoma in Jordan: a comparative study with Epstein-Barr virus-associated Hodgkin lymphoma in North America.

An association between Epstein-Barr virus and Hodgkin lymphoma has been shown in several parts of the world. The reported incidence of Epstein-Barr virus in Hodgkin lymphoma varies significantly from one country to another and ranges from <30% in Swedish patients to 100% in patients from Kenya. Using in situ hybridization for detection of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA and immunohistochemistry for detection of Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein, we analyzed 28 cases of Hodgkin lymphoma from Jordan and 30 cases from the United States. Eight of 28 Jordanian cases and 9 of 30 North American cases were Epstein-Barr virus positive. Our studies show that the incidence of Epstein-Barr virus among Jordanian patients with Hodgkin lymphoma is similar to the rate in patients from the United States. This rate appears to be low to intermediate compared with rates in other parts of the world.