Nasal biopsy is superior to nasal smear for finding eosinophils in nonallergic rhinitisIngels K, Durdurez J-P, Cuvelier C, van Cauwenberge P. Nasal biopsy is superior to nasal smear for finding eosinophils in nonallergic rhinitis. Allergy 1997: 52: 338-341. © Munksgaard 1997.The presence of eosinophils was compared in nasal biopsy and smear. Thirty-two nonallergic rhinitis patients, of whom six had nasal polyps, were included in the study. The specimens were studied light-microscopic ally after staining with hematoxylin-eosin. The association between the presence of polyps and the finding of eosinophils in the biopsy specimens proved to be significant. Ten normal subjects served as controls. It was far more simple to detect eosinophils in the biopsy samples than in the nasal smears. When we considered biopsies with at least four eosinophils in four fields as hypereosinophilic, our group of patients contained 25 % nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome (NARES) patients.K. Ingels1, J.~P. Durdurez1, C. Cuvelier2, P, van Cauwenberge

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoid proliferations that are similar to post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders may occasionally occur in the setting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Herein, we describe such a lesion involving the adenoids in a HIV-seropositive adolescent who acquired immunity against EBV during childhood. On microscopic examination, the marginal zone of B follicles and the interfollicular area were enlarged due to the accumulation of small or intermediate-sized lymphocytes, immunoblasts, epithelioid histiocytes, and plasma cells. A few atypical immunoblasts resembling Reed-Sternberg cells were also present. Most of the cells seen in these expanded regions belonged to the B-cell lineage and displayed a phenotype consistent with that of postgerminal center B cells. No clonal rearrangement of the genes coding for the heavy chain of the immunoglobulin could be demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction analysis. In-situ hybridization studies revealed the presence of EBV early RNA in a significant number of these cells, which suggests the participation of this virus in the pathogenesis of such a B-cell proliferation. The clinical course was benign; no progression or recurrence could be seen more than 24 months after the diagnosis. This atypical lymphoproliferative disorder is probably related to polyclonal reactivation of a latent EBV infection due to a local or systemic immune imbalance induced by HIV replication. Recognition of this reactive condition is important to prevent overtreatment.