Epstein-Barr virus involvement in the pathogenesis of hydroa vacciniforme: an assessment of seven adult patients with long-term follow-up

An update on viral-induced cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders. CME Part I

Viral-induced cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are an uncommon group of lymphoproliferative disorders characterized by a viral infection of T and natural killer (NK) cells. This group of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas is more commonly encountered in Asians and Native Americans from Central and South America compared with Western populations. Viral-associated lymphoproliferative disorders include a spectrum of entities that range from nonneoplastic lesions, such as chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection and infective dermatitis to malignant diseases, such as extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, hydroa vacciniforme-like T-cell lymphoma, and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. This review article will focus on hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, and Epstein-Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous ulcers. We will review the pathogenesis of these conditions and the challenges of making a timely diagnosis in early-stage disease and discuss the common clinicopathologic manifestations, mutational landscape, and approaches to treat these highly aggressive and frequently lethal types of lymphoma.

Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder: A clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and prognostic study of 24 cases in China

Hydroa vacciniforme‐like lymphoproliferative disorder (HV‐LPD) is a rare cutaneous disease associated with Epstein–Barr virus infection. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical presentation, histopathological characteristics, and prognostic study of HV‐LPD in 24 Chinese patients. All patients presented with recurrent papulovesicular and necrotic eruptions on the face, neck, and extremities, with 11 showing systemic symptoms. Twenty patients were diagnosed with HV‐LPD in childhood (age < 18 years) and four in adulthood (age ≥ 18 years). The median age at diagnosis was 8.5 years old (range, 2–50). Histopathology revealed variably dense lymphocyte infiltration throughout the dermis. All cases were strongly positive for CD3 and Epstein–Barr encoding region based on in situ hybridization. Of 18 cases with a T‐cell phenotype, 15 harbored monoclonal rearrangements in T‐cell receptor (TCR) genes. Four cases with a natural killer cell phenotype carried polyclonal rearrangements in TCR genes. Among 24 patients, eight (33.3%) received chemotherapy, two (8.3%) allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and both are currently alive without disease. The median follow‐up period was 24 months (range, 7–120) and 23 patients were available: 15 (62.5%) were alive, and eight (33.3%) had died. Fourteen cases had a relapse of disease and three developed lymphoma within 24 months of diagnosis. The mean survival time of childhood‐onset patients was longer than that of adult‐onset patients (36.4 vs. 20.8 months). In summary, the wide clinical course and representative presentation of cases in our center reflect the pedigree characteristics of HV‐LPD. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be a preferred choice for relapse and refractory patients due to the poor effect of chemotherapy. Adult‐onset and high serum EBV DNA loads may indicate an increased risk of aggressive disease in patients with HV‐LPD.

Hydroa Vacciniforme-like Lymphoproliferative disorder in an adult invades the liver and bone marrow with clear pathological evidence: a case report and literature review

Background

Hydroa Vacciniforme-like Lymphoproliferative Disorder (HV-LPD) is the name given to a group of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated diseases. It resembles hydroa vacciniforme (HV), the rarest form of photosensitivity, and is a T-cell disorder associated with an Epstein-Barr virus infection. The majority of diagnosed cases occur in East Asia and South America. It is rare in the United States and Europe. Multiple studies have revealed the clinical manifestation of an enlarged liver, but no gold standard such as pathology has yet supported this as a clinical sign of HV-LPD.

Case presentation

Here, we report a case of a 34-year-old Asian female with definite liver invasion. The patient had complained of a recurring facial rash for many years. The patient was admitted to the hospital because of an enlarged liver. After hospitalization, she was given an EB virus nucleic acid test. The EB virus nucleic acid test was positive, and pathological examination suggested that HV-LPD had invaded the skin, bone marrow, and liver. After being given antiviral treatment, the patient’s symptoms were mitigated.

Conclusions

Our case confirms the liver damage was caused by HV-LPD and the effectiveness of antiviral treatment.

Hydroa Vacciniforme and Hydroa Vacciniforme-Like Lymphoproliferative Disorder: A Spectrum of Disease Phenotypes Associated with Ultraviolet Irradiation and Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

Hydroa vacciniforme (HV) is a rare form of photosensitivity disorder in children and is frequently associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection, whereas HV-like lymphoproliferative disorders (HVLPD) describe a spectrum of EBV-associated T-cell or natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoproliferations with HV-like cutaneous manifestations, including EBV-positive HV, atypical HV, and HV-like lymphoma. Classic HV occurs in childhood with papulovesicules on sun-exposed areas, which is usually induced by sunlight and ultraviolet irradiation, and mostly resolves by early adult life. Unlike classic HV, atypical or severe HV manifests itself as recurrent papulovesicular eruptions in sun-exposed and sun-protected areas associated occasionally with facial edema, fever, lymphadenopathy, oculomucosal lesions, gastrointestinal involvement, and hepatosplenomegaly. Notably, atypical or severe HV may progress to EBV-associated systemic T-cell or natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoma after a chronic course. Although rare in the United States and Europe, atypical or severe HV and HV-like lymphoma are predominantly reported in children from Asia and Latin America with high EBV DNA levels, low numbers of NK cells, and T cell clones in the blood. In comparison with the conservative treatment used for patients with classic HV, systemic therapy such as immunomodulatory agents is recommended as the first-line therapy for patients with atypical or severe HV. This review aims to provide an integrated overview of current evidence and knowledge of HV and HVLPD to elucidate the pathophysiology, practical issues, environmental factors, and the impact of EBV infection.

Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder: an EBV disease with a low risk of systemic illness in whites

Patients with classic hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder (HVLPD) typically have high levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in T cells and/or natural killer (NK) cells in blood and skin lesions induced by sun exposure that are infiltrated with EBV-infected lymphocytes. HVLPD is very rare in the United States and Europe but more common in Asia and South America. The disease can progress to a systemic form that may result in fatal lymphoma. We report our 11-year experience with 16 HVLPD patients from the United States and England and found that whites were less likely to develop systemic EBV disease (1/10) than nonwhites (5/6). All (10/10) of the white patients were generally in good health at last follow-up, while two-thirds (4/6) of the nonwhite patients required hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Nonwhite patients had later age of onset of HVLPD than white patients (median age, 8 vs 5 years) and higher levels of EBV DNA (median, 1 515 000 vs 250 000 copies/ml) and more often had low numbers of NK cells (83% vs 50% of patients) and T-cell clones in the blood (83% vs 30% of patients). RNA-sequencing analysis of an HVLPD skin lesion in a white patient compared with his normal skin showed increased expression of interferon-γ and chemokines that attract T cells and NK cells. Thus, white patients with HVLPD were less likely to have systemic disease with EBV and had a much better prognosis than nonwhite patients. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00369421 and #NCT00032513.

Recurrent scarring papulovesicular lesions on sun-exposed skin in a 22-year-old man

KEY TEACHING POINTS.

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection with cutaneous and sinus lymphoproliferation in a white female patient with 25 years' follow-up: an original case report

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) is characterized by chronic infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms associated with very high viral load, as assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We present an unusual case in a French woman who was followed up over 25 years with cutaneous and sinus lymphoproliferation. This white woman presented with a long history of recurrent cutaneous necrotic papules of the skin, which started during childhood and healed spontaneously with depressed scars. The lesions spread to the left maxillary sinus and were associated with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly with no other visceral locations. Pathological examination of the skin and sinus revealed a dermal monoclonal T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, CD7(+) and CD20(-) , with no epidermotropism. T-cell receptor rearrangement was positive, showing the monoclonality from the first biopsy. This T-cell proliferation was positive for EBV-encoded small RNA and was associated with a high EBV viral load. Since then, the patient has been in good health, despite a permanently high EBV viral load. Hydroa vacciniforme (HV)-like lymphoma and natural killer/T-cell lymphoma were discussed, but none really fit our case. Natural killer cell lymphoma was ruled out because of the indolent course, but sinus lesions do not exist in HV-like lymphoma. A therapeutic approach is difficult because of the coexistence of viral infection and monoclonal T-cell proliferation. Chemotherapy is not efficient and induces immunosuppression, which may worsen the prognosis. Although rituximab may have an immunomodulatory function, it was not effective in our case.

Antiviral treatment of a boy with EBV-associated hydroa vacciniforme

Hydroa vacciniforme is one of the rarest forms of photosensitivity disorders of the skin. Effective treatment options are scarce and mainly constitute of strict sun protection. Lately, hydroa vacciniforme has been associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. We present a patient with hydroa vacciniforme and concomitant previous/chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection. In this case, antiviral treatment was successful.