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Measurement by the polymerase chain reaction of the Epstein‐Barr virus load in infectious mononucleosis and AIDS‐related non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas
Author(s) -
Laroche Christine,
Drouet Emmanuel B.,
Brousset Pierre,
Pain Christiane,
Boibieux Andre,
Biron Francois,
Icart Josette,
Denoyel Gerard A.,
Niveleau Alain
Publication year - 1995
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.1890460115
Subject(s) - mononucleosis , lymphoma , polymerase chain reaction , serology , asymptomatic , virology , virus , epstein–barr virus , medicine , immunology , viral load , non hodgkin's lymphoma , gammaherpesvirinae , herpesviridae , viral disease , biology , antibody , pathology , gene , biochemistry
Abstract A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) sequences in various clinical samples, especially peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and serum, was carried out and the results obtained were compared with specific EBV serology. One hundred seventy patients were enrolled in the study: 89 healthy blood donors, 22 asymptomatic patients, 36 individuals with primary EBV infection (including 19 patients with infectious mononucleosis [IM]), 22 HIV‐infected subjects (including 4 with hairy oral leukoplakia, 3 with central nervous disorders, and 15 with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma). All the serum samples from the healthy blood donors were negative, In patients with IM and in AIDS‐non Hodgkin's lymphoma (ARNHL), PCR was strongly positive in leukocytes (>2, 000 genome equivalents/l 0 4 cells), which was correlated with detectable amounts of EBV DNA in serum. The overall positivity rate of PCR in serum was 58.8%, 68%, and 73% of cases for non‐IM primary EBV infections, IM, and ARNHL, respectively. In two cases of EBV primary infection, the viral DNA was detected in serum, respectively 1 month and 2 months before IgM positivity and IgG rise. In one case of ARNHL followed up for several months, PCR (viral load of 2, 000 genome equivalents/10 4 cells) became positive concurrently with appearance of lymphoma. In immunocompromised individuals, PCR EBV, if carried out in larger prospective studies, could be considered as a tumor marker, useful for predicting EBV‐driven lymphoma and follow‐up therapy. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.