title: Epstein-Barr virus serology in bone marrow transplantations: a one-year retrospective study with detection of EBV IgM-VCA-specific antibodies.
abstract: The specific antibody response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens of 41 bone marrow transplant recipients with leukemia or aplastic anemia was examined retrospectively by immunofluorescence test (IF) over 1 year. We observed high titers (greater than 640) of IgG-viral capsid antigen (VCA) with emergence of IgG-early antigen (EA) and frequent absence or low levels of Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibodies. After absorption to remove rheumatoid factor (RF), five of the 41 recipients had IgM-VCA antibody to EBV, which appeared between weeks 26 and 48 after BMT and persisted for 1-4 months. No heterophil antibodies were detected in these sera, and none of the five recipients had a history of infectious mononucleosis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen; C033305:Epstein-Barr virus early antigen; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor