title: A convenient semi-quantitative method for the diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus reactivation.
abstract: A semi-quantitative determination of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viremia has been devised. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells are recovered by Ficoll gradient and numerated. Five microl aliquots of recovered cell suspension and 5 microl of two standard dilutions (containing 500 and 100 cells, respectively) are subjected to a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This technique has been evaluated over 3 years for the follow-up of 45 patients attending the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of the "Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Nancy". EBV reactivation was diagnosed in 13 patients (28%). Positivity of PCR for 100 cells was found in 9 patients of whom 6 developed lymphoma or lymphoproliferative disorder. This technique is easy to perform and doesn't necessitate any specific material besides the one necessary for routine genic amplification.
authors.affiliation: Unité Mixte de Recherche, 7565 UHP-CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venard
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Carret
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pascal
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rihn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bordigoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Faou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology; D014775:Virus Activation; D014779:Virus Replication