The Prevalence and the Patterns of the Expression of Latent Epstein-Barr Virus in Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas Among Patients in Oman: Immunohistochemistry Versus in Situ Hybridization

Epstein Barr virus (EBV) has been incriminated in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the pattern of the expression of Epstein-Barr in HL and NHL tissue samples obtained from Omani patients attending Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH). Besides, to compare the sensitivity and specificity of immunohistochemistry(IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) for the detection of EBV in HL and NHL and finally to have more understanding of the pathogenesis of EBV in HL and NHL among patients in Oman. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples consisting of 26 Hodgkin and 34 non-Hodgkin lymphomas were assessed for the presence of EBV by IHC to detect Latent membrane protein (LMP), expression and by using ISH to detect Epstein -Barr encoded RNAs (EBERs). The expression of LMP and EBERs were detected respectively in 46.2% and 57.7% of Hodgkin's lymphoma cases and were detected in 11.8% and 14.7% respectively of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases. The intensity of LMP-1 and EBER expression was significantly high in mixed cellularity compared to other subtypes. The expression of EBV was detected in transformed cells in both HL & NHL. The expression of EBV in transformed cells in both HL and NHL indicates that EBV may play a pro vital role in the pathogenesis of HL and NHL among patients in Oman. Moreover, this study indicates that IHC is to some degree compatible in terms of sensitivity and specificity to ISH in the detection of EBV in HL and NHL.