Detection of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements in Hodgkin's disease using PCR.

AIM: To detect clonal rearrangements of the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain gene in Hodgkin's disease tissue using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS: DNA extracted from 36 samples of Hodgkin's disease was analysed using PCR and primers from conserved sequences in the variable (VH) and joining (JH) regions. RESULTS: Clonal rearrangement was detected only in one case. Evidence of clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement had been detected previously in this case using conventional Southern blot analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of the two techniques is equivalent and clonal Ig heavy chain gene rearrangements are rare in Hodgkin's disease.