Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] and EBV antibodies in adolescent systemic lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT

To assess whether the adolescent systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] patients had a presumed primary or reactivated EBV antibodies response as evidence of an active EBV infection. The study was conducted on serum samples collected from 35 adolescent SLE patients and 26 apparently healthy controls. EBV serologic response, VGA, IgG and IgM, EBNA antibody and anti-EA were measured with Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. PCR was done on peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC] and saliva samples from same patients and controls for detection of EBV DNA. In addition, immortalization assay was done on PBMC and saliva samples for detection of active EBV. EBV serologic responses VGA IgM and IgG, EBNA antibody and EA antibody were detected in a high statistically significant level in adolescent SLE patients than healthy controls [p<0.0001, 0.001, 0.005 and 0.0001 respectively]. The incidence of primary EBV infection and reactive EBV infection in adolescent SLE patients studied according to serologic responses were 60% and 40% respectively. EBV serologic responses in healthy controls were in very low detectable level and classified as an EBV past-infection. EBV genomic material was not found in PBMC or saliva of patients or controls. We only detected in a single row active EBV with immortalization assay in PBMC of reactivated one SLE patient. Serologic profiles were more likely a consequence of immune dysregulation secondary to SLE or its therapy rather than rampant infection with EBV