Identification of early antigen BZLF1/ZEBRA protein of Epstein-Barr virus can predict the effectiveness of antiviral treatment in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated B-cell lymphoproliferations may arise in solid organ transplant recipients. In these patients, an insufficient control of EBV-infected B cells commonly occurs. Antiviral treatment against EBV may represent a causal, relatively low-toxic treatment option. Treatment with foscarnet, an inhibitor of viral-DNA polymerase, in three patients with EBV-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) after heart (n = 2) and heart/kidney transplantation (n = 1), who did not respond to, or were not eligible for reduction of immunosuppression, resulted in complete remission (48+, 27 and 15 months respectively). Response of PTLD to antiviral treatment correlated with the expression of lytic phase antigen BZLF1/ZEBRA protein, an early antigen of lytic EBV-activity, in the biopsied PTLD specimens.
Hämatologie und Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Charite-Campus Virchow, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. stephan.oertel@charite.de
Stephan H
SH
Oertel
Ioannis
I
Anagnostopoulos
Manfred W
MW
Hummel
Sven
S
Jonas
Hanno B
HB
Riess
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis*; D014764:Viral Proteins
D000998:Antiviral Agents; C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins; D017245:Foscarnet