ABSTRACT
The involvement of viruses in the pathogenesis of malignancies is one of the major fields of research. The lymphotropic: Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], Human Herpes virus-6 [HHV-6], and Human T-Lymphoma/Leukemia virus [HTLV-1] have some roles in the pathogenesis of diverse types of neoplasms. The human CD4+ T-lymphocytes and monocytes are the major targets for Human immunodeficiency virus type 1[HIV-1]. One of the most important clinical finding in AIDS patients is lymph node enlargement. In this study we evaluated the association between diverse pathological and etiological types of lymph node enlargements including nasopharvugeal carcinoma [NPC], and lymphotropic viruses as a lymphotropic virus-associated disorder. The presence of [EBV] / [HHV-6] and [HTLV-1], which are the most common lymphotropic viruses and may act as co-factors with HIV-1 infection, was also investigated. The lymphoproliferative disorders included: Non Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, Tuberculous Lymphadenitis, lymphatic reactive hyperplasia, and diverse types of non specific lymphadenitis. Enzyme immunoassays, for detection of antibodies to HIV-1, and HTLV-1 were used, while the indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to screen for antibody to EBV and HHV-6 in sera, western blot [WB] was used for HIV- results 1 and HTLV-1 confirmation. Results indicated that 0/133 patients with NEC or lymph node enlargement whether malignant or reactive was HIV-1 positive; 31/133 [36%] were EBV IgG viral capsid antigen positive by IFA, 26/133 [19.5%] were HTLV-1 positive by ELISA; one case only [0.75%] was confirmed by WB; 46/133 [34.5%,] were HHV-6 positive by IFA