[Relation of antibody levels to Epstein-Barr virus to histological variant and clinical course of lymphogranulomatosis].

The indirect immunofluorescent test in fixed P3HR-1 cells showed the sera from patients with lymphogranulomatosis to contain high titers of humoral antibody to the capsid antigen of Epstein-Barr virus. Higher titers of antibody to EBV were associated with unfavourably running histological variants of lymphogranulomatosis. The lymphoid depletion variant was accompanied by high antibody titers to the virus and had a worse prognosis than the nodular-sclerotic variant with lower antibody titers but better prognosis. The level of antibody in lymphogranulomatosis was stable. No relationship between the antibody level and the stage and results of the therapy given was found. In sera from patients with reticulosarcoma and lymphosarcoma no significant rise of antibody titers to EBV was found as compared with a group of normal donors, while in acute leukosis there was a tend for a decline in antibody titers.