title: Long-term follow-up of Epstein-Barr virus viremia in pediatric recipients of renal transplants.
abstract: The common observation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viremia in pediatric recipients of renal transplants and the occurrence of an EBV-related pulmonary leiomyoma prompted us to intensify the follow-up of EBV infections from 1995 to October 2000. Follow-up included serology and detection of viral DNA in blood using a semi-quantitative nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and later a real-time PCR with higher sensitivity. The aim of this study was the early detection of primary infections or reactivations. We obtained 250 samples from 32 patients. EBV DNA detection was consistently negative in 14 patients. There were 5 patients that were considered at risk for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, as they were EBV seronegative and were given a kidney from a positive donor. Of these, 4 had at least one episode of high-level EBV viremia. During these episodes, an absence of noticeable symptoms that could be related to EBV was noted for all but 1 patient. This child presented with severe neutropenia 1 month after grafting and, 28 months later, several nodules of pulmonary leiomyoma, which were found to be EBV related. Four episodes of high-level viremia were observed before the discovery of the leiomyoma. Viral DNA detection is important for the follow-up of such patients that are especially at risk of serious complications of EBV infections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Central de Virologie, Hôpital de Brabois-Adultes, CHU de Nancy, Route de Neufchâteau, 54511 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Tahar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hadou
authors.forename: Jean Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: Rosine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bourquard
authors.forename: Marie Jeanne
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Krier-Coudert
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venard
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Faou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents