Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in renal transplant recipients.
Renal transplant recipients at Tygerberg Hospital were investigated to determine the importance of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as a pathogen in these patients. All 106 patients investigated were shown to have EBV antibodies before transplantation and most had serological evidence of reactivation of the infection after transplantation. A mild clinical illness was present in a few patients concomitant with EBV reactivation, which may suggest that this virus has a role in the morbidity of some renal transplant recipients. Lymphoblastoid cell lines were established from 11 renal transplant recipients; 5 of these cell lines were shown to be virus producers and 1 is thought to have unique properties.
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014775:Virus Activation
D000914:Antibodies, Viral