[The association of Epstein-Barr virus with Hodgkin's lymphoma in childhood].

Specimens from 82 children with Hodgkin's lymphoma were studied by immunohistochemical technique for Epstein-Barr virus encoded latent membrane protein (LMP). LMP was demonstrated in 67 cases 81.7%, the positive rate for the mixed cellular subtype was 90.9%. The positive rate for the 3-5 year old group of patients was 100%, 75% for the 6-10 year old group and only 62.5% for the 11-14 year old group. These findings suggest that Epstein-Barr virus is strongly associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma, the younger the age, the stronger the association. Mixed cellular subtype of Hodgkin's lymphoma had the strongest association with Epstein-Barr virus among all subtypes.