Relationship between Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Infection and Viral Load in Immunosuppressive Patients

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the relationship between clinic and presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA and viral load by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with high risk.Methods: A total of 168 samples obtained from 160 patients, hospitalized in Gazi University Hospital between March 2014 and May 2015, were included in the study. EBV antibodies were investigated by ELISA (Dia.Pro, Milano, Italy) in clinical samples of patients, and serological profiles of patients were determined. Nucleic acid isolation was performed by High Pure Viral Nucleic Acid Kit (Roche, Germany). Isolated DNAs were amplified by LightCycler® EBV Quantitative Kit (Roche, Germany) in LightCycler 2.0 (Roche, Germany) device, and results were evaluated quantitatively.Results: EBV DNA was positive for 4.2% (7/168) of the samples. The distributions of positive rates were 14.2% (1/7) for oncology, 12.5% (1/8) for intensive care units, 4.8% (4/42) for pediatric gastroenterology, and 4.1% (1/24) for pediatric hematology. Three of the patients that EBV DNA detected had liver transplant, one had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, one had Burkitt’s lymphoma, one had acute renal failure, and one had gingivostomatitis and pharyngotonsillitis while follow-up. In 6/7 of the samples, EBV DNA detected 104 copies/ml, and 1/7 of the samples 105 copies/ ml. The patient whose EBV DNA load was 105 copies/ml had Burkitt’s lymphoma. EBV DNA and viral capsid antigen IgM positive were detected simultaneously only in one patient (17%).Conclusion: Early diagnosis by real-time PCR is of great importance in terms of follow-up of patients by monitoring DNA amounts and prognosis. Therefore, in immunosuppressive patients who have high levels of EBV DNA, Burkitt’s lymphoma disease should be considered.

Keywords

• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
• viral load
• immunosuppressive patient