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We have presented a working hypothesis showing the possible
interrelations between proliferative, aproliferative and
autoimmune disorders that may follow infection with
lymphotropic herpesviruses. Aproliferative disorders in this
context may also indicate immune or hematopoietic deficiency.
Although this hypothesis can currently be best documented with
the lymphotropic viruses (herpesviruses as well as similarly
HTLV and HIV), the model may apply as well–with certain
variations–to other viral infections such as with hepatitis
virus B or C with acute or chronic infectious diseases,
post-infectious arthritis, aplastic anemia, and other
autoimmune liver diseases, as well as neoplastic diseases
(hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia). The
working hypothesis as depicted in Figure 2 permits a preview
of which combinations of symptoms may occur in an individual
disease independent of its initial classification and what
clinical testing should be done respectively, and it also
permits certain prognostic considerations. The above-mentioned
transitions or combinations of various disease patterns have
been repeatedly described in the medical literature (to refer
to only a few examples: APL and MPD, HD and MDS, SLE and
aplastic anemia, SLE and Kikuchi’s disease; 23, 80-83).
Finally the hypothesis can ideally serve as the basis for
future planning of clinical research.
Krueger GR, Ferrer Argote
