Rapid development of Epstein–Barr virus-associated Hodgkin's disease after cessation of foscarnet therapy in an HIV-infected patient

Abstract

Epidemiological features suggest a link between Hodgkin's disease (HD) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection1. Indeed, EBV genome and expression of latent antigens can be found in Reed-Sternberg cells. In the majority of cases HD in HIV patients seems to be EBV-associated. We report on a 51-year-old HIV-infected patient in whom EBV-positive HD of mixed cellularity rapidly developed within one month after cessation of treatment with intravenous foscarnet.