Premium
High levels of Epstein‐Barr virus in the oropharynx: A predictor of disease progression in human immunodeficiency virus infection
Author(s) -
DiazMitoma Francisco,
Ruiz Alejandra,
Flowerdew Gordon,
Houston Stanley,
Romanowski Barbara,
Kovithavongs T.,
Preiksaitis Jutta,
Tyrrell D. Lorne
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890310202
Subject(s) - immunosuppression , virus , immunology , subclinical infection , epstein–barr virus , serology , virology , excretion , viral disease , immunopathology , medicine , antibody , disease , herpesviridae , biology
The role of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) on the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is not well defined. The objective of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of EBV excretion and the rol that EBV might have on HIV disease progression. Fifty‐two homosexual males were studied, all of whom had positive EBV serology. Twenty‐four of the 27 HIV‐seropositive and 14 of the 25 HIV‐seronegative subjects had detectable levels of EBV DNA in oropharyngeal cells. In addition to a greater prevalence of detectable EBV, the level of excretion was higher among HIV‐seropositives than among HIV‐seronegatives, and higher among group III than among group II HIV‐seropositive men. These results are consistent with earlier studies showing a relationship between immunosuppression and EBV reactivation. The EBV excretion levels in a control group of 52 age‐matched heterosexual males were substantially lower than those found in the homosexual group. In a proportional hazards regression analysis EBV excretion was found to be the best single predictor of progression of HIV infection ( P <0.001). HIV p24 core antigenemia ( P =0.048) and low EBNA ( P =0.024) were significant predictors independent of EBV excretion. Whether EV directly accelerates the time to progression or is merely a marker of underlying subclinical immunosuppression remains an open question.