Correlation between allergy and persistent Epstein-Barr virus infections in chronic-active Epstein-Barr virus-infected patients.
Forty-six anti-Epstein Barr nuclear antigen-positive allergic patients, 11 of whom having clinical and laboratory evidence of chronic-active Epstein-Barr virus (CA-EBV) infections, were characterized by EBV serology, percentages of T cells, B cells, and IgE+ cells, serum levels of IgE, and allergen-induced responsiveness of lymphocytes. Results demonstrated patients with CA-EBV have significantly increased responsiveness toward specific allergens, responses toward greater numbers of allergens, numbers of IgE+ T and B cells, and levels of background DNA activity in nonstimulated lymphocytes than do subjects who suffer from allergies in the absence of the CA-EBV syndrome. Further comparison between subjects with laboratory-determined mild and moderate allergy and those with CA-EBV demonstrated a progressive increase in the serum levels of IgE as the degree of allergy increased, no difference in concentrations of T and B cells, and titers of anti-viral capsid antigen and anti-early antigen to be significantly greater in patients with CA-EBV. Statistical analysis demonstrated that patients with CA-EBV could be separated from subjects with allergies by metabolic and immunologic variables. The data suggested that allergen-induced responses may contribute to the CA-EBV syndrome.
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D013577:Syndrome; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D007073:Immunoglobulin E