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Clinical significance of peripheral blood Epstein–Barr viral load monitoring using polymerase chain reaction in renal transplant recipients
Author(s) -
Toyoda Mieko,
Moudgil Asha,
Warady Bradley A.,
Puliyanda Dechu P.,
Jordan Stanley C.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pediatric transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1399-3046
pISSN - 1397-3142
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2008.00904.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , viremia , serology , polymerase chain reaction , viral load , real time polymerase chain reaction , immunology , gastroenterology , epstein–barr virus , virus , antibody , gene , biochemistry , chemistry
PTLD is a complication of EBV infection. We examined the efficacy of EBV‐PCR monitoring to detect early replication in an attempt to prevent EBV‐associated PTLD. Blood EBV levels in 156 renal transplant recipients (58 children) from three institutions over nine yr were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who were asymptomatic and at high risk for PTLD were monitored for EBV infection by PCR or serology followed by PCR at the time of EBV seropositivity. More children than adults had positive EBV‐PCR (12/58 vs. 2/98, p < 0.001). Adults remained asymptomatic and viremia resolved post‐therapy. 3/12 EBV‐PCR positive children developed PTLD (3/12 children vs. 0/2 adults, p = NS). Two out of three with PTLD were initially monitored by serology, and later by PCR. PTLD resolved post‐therapy in all three patients. The remaining 9/12 EBV‐PCR positive children stayed asymptomatic. None of the children and adults with negative EBV‐PCR developed PTLD. EBV‐PCR monitoring in high‐risk renal transplant recipients, especially in children, may allow early diagnosis and intervention, and therefore may help in preventing EBV‐associated PTLD.