Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Clinical Microbiology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Microbiology
. 1990 Dec;28(12):2775–2778. doi: 10.1128/jcm.28.12.2775-2778.1990

Diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus infection in hairy leukoplakia by using nucleic acid hybridization and noninvasive techniques.

Y G De Souza 1, U K Freese 1, D Greenspan 1, J S Greenspan 1
PMCID: PMC268272  PMID: 2177752

Abstract

The presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in the epithelial cells of oral hairy leukoplakia is the confirming criterion in the diagnosis of this lesion, which occurs mainly in persons infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. Because hairy leukoplakia often presages the development of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, it is important that suspicious lesions be accurately diagnosed. Commonly, biopsy tissue is removed for detection of EBV DNA by in situ hybridization, but biopsy is contraindicated in some patients. This study evaluated filter and cytospin in situ hybridization, two noninvasive techniques that examine epithelial cells swabbed from the surfaces of the lesions, for their sensitivity in detecting EBV DNA. As compared with tissue in situ hybridization, the filter and cytospin techniques had sensitivities of 100 and 92%, respectively. We conclude that these two noninvasive techniques can provide the clinician with an accurate alternative to biopsy whenever this human immunodeficiency virus-associated lesion is suspected.

Full text

PDF
2775

Images in this article

2777Image
on p.2777
2777Image
on p.2777
2777Image
on p.2777

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ficarra G., Barone R., Gaglioti D., Milo D., Riccardi R., Romagnoli P., Zorn M. Oral hairy leukoplakia among HIV-positive intravenous drug abusers: a clinicopathologic and ultrastructural study. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1988 Apr;65(4):421–426. doi: 10.1016/0030-4220(88)90356-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Green T. L., Greenspan J. S., Greenspan D., De Souza Y. G. Oral lesions mimicking hairy leukoplakia: a diagnostic dilemma. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1989 Apr;67(4):422–426. doi: 10.1016/0030-4220(89)90385-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Greenspan D., Greenspan J. S., Conant M., Petersen V., Silverman S., Jr, de Souza Y. Oral "hairy" leucoplakia in male homosexuals: evidence of association with both papillomavirus and a herpes-group virus. Lancet. 1984 Oct 13;2(8407):831–834. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(84)90872-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Greenspan D., Greenspan J. S., Hearst N. G., Pan L. Z., Conant M. A., Abrams D. I., Hollander H., Levy J. A. Relation of oral hairy leukoplakia to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus and the risk of developing AIDS. J Infect Dis. 1987 Mar;155(3):475–481. doi: 10.1093/infdis/155.3.475. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Greenspan D., Greenspan J. S., de Souza Y., Levy J. A., Ungar A. M. Oral hairy leukoplakia in an HIV-negative renal transplant recipient. J Oral Pathol Med. 1989 Jan;18(1):32–34. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1989.tb00729.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Greenspan J. S., Greenspan D., Lennette E. T., Abrams D. I., Conant M. A., Petersen V., Freese U. K. Replication of Epstein-Barr virus within the epithelial cells of oral "hairy" leukoplakia, an AIDS-associated lesion. N Engl J Med. 1985 Dec 19;313(25):1564–1571. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198512193132502. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Greenspan J. S., Greenspan D. Oral hairy leukoplakia: diagnosis and management. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1989 Apr;67(4):396–403. doi: 10.1016/0030-4220(89)90381-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gross G., Wiegand H., Zentgraf H. Epstein-Barr-Virus-Nachweis in oraler haariger Leukoplakie bei AIDS-Patienten, in Leukoplakien und unauffälligen Zungenepithelien HIV-1-negative Patienten. Z Hautkr. 1988 Jan 18;63(1):44–48. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Reichart P. A., Langford A., Gelderblom H. R., Pohle H. D., Becker J., Wolf H. Oral hairy leukoplakia: observations in 95 cases and review of the literature. J Oral Pathol Med. 1989 Aug;18(7):410–415. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1989.tb01573.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Resnick L., Herbst J. S., Ablashi D. V., Atherton S., Frank B., Rosen L., Horwitz S. N. Regression of oral hairy leukoplakia after orally administered acyclovir therapy. JAMA. 1988 Jan 15;259(3):384–388. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Rindum J. L., Schiødt M., Pindborg J. J., Scheibel E. Oral hairy leukoplakia in three hemophiliacs with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1987 Apr;63(4):437–440. doi: 10.1016/0030-4220(87)90256-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Schiødt M., Greenspan D., Daniels T. E., Greenspan J. S. Clinical and histologic spectrum of oral hairy leukoplakia. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1987 Dec;64(6):716–720. doi: 10.1016/0030-4220(87)90174-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Sciubba J., Brandsma J., Schwartz M., Barrezueta N. Hairy leukoplakia: an AIDS-associated opportunistic infection. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1989 Apr;67(4):404–410. doi: 10.1016/0030-4220(89)90382-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Syrjänen S., Laine P., Niemelä M., Happonen R. P. Oral hairy leukoplakia is not a specific sign of HIV-infection but related to immunosuppression in general. J Oral Pathol Med. 1989 Jan;18(1):28–31. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1989.tb00728.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Syrjänen S., Laine P., Valle S. L. Demonstration of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in oral hairy leukoplakia using in situ hybridization with biotinylated probe. Proc Finn Dent Soc. 1988;84(2):127–132. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Unger E. R., Budgeon L. R., Myerson D., Brigati D. J. Viral diagnosis by in situ hybridization. Description of a rapid simplified colorimetric method. Am J Surg Pathol. 1986 Jan;10(1):1–8. doi: 10.1097/00000478-198601000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Wagner D., Ikenberg H., Boehm N., Gissmann L. Identification of human papillomavirus in cervical swabs by deoxyribonucleic acid in situ hybridization. Obstet Gynecol. 1984 Dec;64(6):767–772. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Wray D., Moody G. H., McMillan A. Oral 'hairy' leukoplakia associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection: report of two cases. Br Dent J. 1986 Nov 8;161(9):338–339. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4805968. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES