ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the rate of occurrence and genotypes of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) among pediatric renal and liver transplants recipients. Design: Observational study. Setting: Vision Research Foundation referral center and Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Chennai, India. Participants: 70 pediatric solid organ transplant recipients and 60 voluntary healthy donors. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection and genotyping of EBV were carried out using genes targeting Viral capsid antigen, Nuclear antigen 1, 2 and 3, followed by real time PCR for viral load determination and further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Results: EBV was detected in 35 (51.4%) samples (32 liver and 4 renal transplants) with high viral load. Type A was detected in 33 samples, Type B in 2 liver transplant patients, and co-infection in one liver transplant patient who developed Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD). Real time PCR results correlated with conventional PCR. The mean viral load for patients who did not develop PTLD was 50,424 copies/mL. Overall EBV load in patient with PTLD ranged from 1,40,392 copies/mL prior to PTLD diagnosis to 62,124 copies /mL post treatment. Conclusion: EBV infection is the high risk factor for PTLD after liver transplantation. PCR targeting of EBV can be applied to diagnose EBV infections and monitor treatment for EBV in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients.