RESUMEN
Objective To explore the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the etiology of drug eruption. Methods PCR-Southern blot was used to detect EBV-specific DNA fragment BamH I -W in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 32 patients with drug eruption and 30 age- and sex-matched normal controls. The mRNA expression of EBV lyric gene BZLF1 in EBV DNA-positive samples was measured by RT-PCR and Southern blot. ELISA was performed to detect EBV virus capsule antigen (VCA)-specific IgM. Results The positivity rate of EBV DNA was significantly higher in patients with drug eruption than in normal controls (78.13% (25/32) vs 10.00% (3/30), P < 0.01), while no significant difference was noted between patients with severe and mild drug eruption (P > 0.05). The expression of BZLF1 mRNA was detected in 3 out of 25 EBV DNA-positive patients; of the 3 patients, 1 suffered from mild drug eruption, and 2 from severe drug eruption. EBV VCA-specific IgM was observed in 6 of 32 patients with drug eruption, but not in any normal controls. No significant difference in the positivity rate of EBV VCA-specific lgM existed between patients with severe and mild drug eruption (P > 0.05). Conclusions There is an active infection of EBV in patients with drug eruption. EBV infection is probably an environmental factor affecting the development of drug eruption.