title: Elevated serum antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM).
abstract: We studied the serum antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in 11 patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM). HAM patients showed significant increases in IgG antibodies to EBV-capsid antigen (VCA) and -early antigen (EA) and in VCA-specific IgA compared with 25 seronegative subjects. However, there were no significant differences in antibodies to EBV-nuclear antigen (EBNA) or to other viruses between the two groups. In HAM patients, altered antibody responses occurred specifically to EBV-associated antigens, not to other viruses.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies