Premium
The significance of Epstein–Barr virus detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of people with HIV infection
Author(s) -
Wang J,
Ozzard A,
Nathan M,
Atkins M,
Nelson M,
Gazzard B,
Bower M
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
hiv medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.53
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1468-1293
pISSN - 1464-2662
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1293.2007.00475.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cerebrospinal fluid , lymphoma , immunosuppression , lumbar puncture , epstein–barr virus , pathology , virus , gastroenterology , immunology
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in people with HIV infection who develop primary cerebral lymphoma (PCL). However, EBV may also be detected in the CSF of patients without PCL, and here the significance is uncertain. Methods Ninety‐eight HIV‐positive patients had lumbar punctures performed and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for EBV was undertaken on the CSF. Thirty‐eight patients had non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), including four with PCL. Sixty patients had a CSF examination for other indications. The clinicopathological details, symptoms, diagnosis, CSF and neuroimaging findings and therapy at time of CSF were recorded and correlated with CSF EBV PCR results. Results EBV was detected in the CSF in three of four patients (75%) with PCL, one of three (33%) with systemic lymphoma and meningeal involvement, and four of 31 (13%) with systemic lymphoma and no meningeal disease. Seven of 60 patients (12%) without lymphoma were CSF EBV‐positive. There were no differences in immunological, clinical, biochemical or radiological parameters between patients with and without EBV in the CSF. After a median follow‐up time of 30 weeks (maximum 102 weeks), none of the seven CSF EBV‐positive patients has developed PCL. Conclusion EBV was detected in up to 12% of patients with neurological symptoms but without lymphoma. A positive result did not correlate with more advanced immunosuppression or a particular neurological diagnosis. Patients with EBV in their CSF did not appear to be at increased risk of developing PCL in the short term.