Usefulness of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in following up patients with Epstein-Barr virus infection after liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), which is mainly induced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing liver transplantation, especially when it is detected at such an advanced stage as monoclonal malignant lymphoma.


METHODS
In this series, 6 of 22 liver transplant patients suffered from EBV infection. We tested quantitative DNA (Qt-DNA) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), qualitative DNA in plasma (Q1-pDNA) by PCR, and EBV-encoded mRNA 1 (EBER 1) by in situ hybridization to clarify which of them is a better marker for the early diagnosis and prediction of EBV-associated disorders.


RESULTS
Four had signs or symptoms of PTLD, but 2 did not develop individualized lymphoid lesions. In all patients, both Qt-DNA and EBER 1 exceeded the cut-off level of 10(2.5) copies/microg DNA and 0.002%, respectively, at the time of diagnosis. In 2 patients, when Qt-DNA had a poor decline, EBER 1, even if it seemed to decrease after antiviral therapy, increased again after a few months and the clinical symptoms recurred. In 2 patients, Qt-DNA and EBER 1 increased again after a few months of antiviral therapy, and Q1-pDNA remained positive, whereas, in 3 patients, no reaction of EBV could be detected once Q1-pDNA became negative, even after the cessation of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that real-time PCR for Qt-DNA was more sensitive to the real-time activity of EBV and that Q1-pDNA could indicate when to stop antiviral therapy.
Orii
T
T
The Second Department of Surgery, Tohuko University, School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. orii@mail.cc.tohoku.ac.jp
Ohkohchi
N
N
Kikuchi
H
H
Koyamada
N
N
Chubachi
S
S
Satomi
S
S
Kimura
H
H
Hoshino
Y
Y
Morita
M
M
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
D004279:DNA, Viral