Detection of Epstein-Barr virus sequences in patients with Kawasaki disease by means of the polymerase chain reaction.
We used a selective DNA amplification technique to detect Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). By means of the polymerase chain reaction EBV sequences were indentified directly in 21 (60%) of 35 KD patients within 2 weeks after the onset of KD. Furthermore, EBV sequences were detected in all of 6 repeatedly tested patients with KD within 3 months after disease onset. In contrast, only 2 (12%) of 17 control DNA samples were polymerase chain reaction positive. These results indicate that an unusual EBV-cell interaction may exist in KD.
Kikuta
H
H
Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Nakanishi
M
M
Ishikawa
N
N
Konno
M
M
Matsumoto
S
S
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004279:DNA, Viral