title: Dynamics of Epstein-Barr virus DNA levels in serum during EBV-associated disease.
abstract: A real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for quantitation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in serum was developed. This assay detected EBV DNA in 24 (89%) of 27 sera from patients with infectious mononucleosis, but only in 9 (18%) of 51 sera from EBV carriers (P < 0.001) and in none of the sera from 32 EBV-seronegative individuals. EBV DNA levels were higher in sera from infectious mononucleosis (median 8,000, range 1833-150,069 copies/ml) than from carriers (median < 2, range < 2-2980; P < 0.001). In sera of 36 children with infectious mononucleosis followed prospectively, EBV DNA levels correlated inversely with the duration of symptoms. Among 18 children with tumors including Hodgkin's disease (n = 7), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 6), Burkitt's lymphoma (n = 1), lymphoproliferative disorder (n = 4), and osteosarcoma (n = 1), EBV DNA was detected in serum from those 9 (100%) expressing EBV in the tumor (Hodgkin's disease, 3; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 2; lymphoproliferative disorder, 4), the levels peaking at diagnosis and correlating with disease activity. Quantitation of EBV DNA in serum may offer a simple means of monitoring patients at risk of EBV-associated lymphoproliferation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zingg
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bossart
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nadal
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000821:virology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000821:virology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000821:virology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000821:virology; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral