title: Epstein-Barr virus DNA load and seroconversion in pediatric renal transplantation with tacrolimus immunosuppression.
abstract: EBV infection is one of major complications arising in pediatric patients who have undergone renal transplantation. A strong correlation between the grade of immunosuppression and the development of PTLD, one of the most severe EBV-associated diseases, has been recognized. In this study, we monitored the serologic profile in conjunction with peripheral blood EBV-DNA load of 32 children who underwent renal transplantation with tacrolimus as an immunosuppressant. Six patients were EBV-seronegative (EBV-) before the transplantation, and the mean DNA load in the EBV- group was significantly higher than that in the EBV-seropositive (EBV+) group. Seroconversion occurred in five of these patients in a mean period of 22 weeks after the transplantation. The EBV-DNA load in the EBV+ group was maintained at a low level for a year, whereas it increased rapidly to over 1 x 10(5) copies/mL in two patients in the EBV- group three to seven months after the transplantation, which corresponds to the timing of seroconversion, and one of them developed PTLD. These observations suggest that the close monitoring of the EBV-DNA load, along with longitudinal observation of seroconversion, is essential in pediatric renal transplantation, particularly for younger children who are more likely to be EVB-.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan. aines@db3.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikezumi
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Kota
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shiraga
authors.forename: Motoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hattori
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D019520:Living Donors; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D016559:Tacrolimus; D008775:Methylprednisolone