The purpose of this study was to delineate the spectrum of neurological
diseases attributed to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activity. The approach
was a retrospective study on patients with EBV activity proven by a
positive EBV antibody-specific index (AI) and/or cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF) PCR. One hundred six children and adults (AI positive = 77,
AI + PCR positive = 3, PCR positive = 26) were identified, most with
reactivated infections. Twenty-eight showed typical EBV-related diseases
(encephalitis, neuritis, meningitis), 19 further infections (HSV
encephalitis, neuroborreliosis, HIV infection, bacterial meningitis),
nine immune-mediated disorders (multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis), and
50 further diseases not typical for EBV. The highest AI values occurred
in patients with encephalitis. No relationship between disease category
or AI values and viral loads was found. Additional reanalysis of 1,500
consecutive CSF EBV PCR studies revealed the highest positive rates
among patients with further infections (n = 18/227, 7.9%) but lower
rates among patients with typical EBV-related disorders (5/395; 1.3%),
immune-mediated disorders (n = 2/174; 1.1%) and other conditions
(n = 4/704; 0.6%). Intrathecal EBV activity is not restricted to typical
EBV-related disorders, unexpectedly frequent in further CNS infections
and also present in non-inflammatory conditions. Prospective studies
should assess the pathogenic role of EBV in these different diseases.
1 comment:
You've got some mad accomplishment here, man. I fitting prospect that you don't recede your name because you're definitely one of the coolest bloggers out there.
Ross Finesmith
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