Epstein-Barr virus serology in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

The antibody profiles against Epstein-Barr virus were studied in 136 patients presenting with chronic fatigue syndromes. These profiles were compared with a panel of sera from blood donors. The patients exhibited higher titres in a combined assay for antibodies to the Restricted (R) and Diffuse (D) components of the Early Antigen complex than controls (P less than 0.001) but titres against these antigens were not useful on an individual patient basis. The patients who displayed elevated titres of antibodies to Early Antigens did not differ clinically from those displaying titres in the control range. Four of nine patients who had increased antibodies to Early Antigens also had evidence of active enterovirus infection.