title: Epstein-Barr virus in inflammatory bowel disease-correlation with different therapeutic regimens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a higher prevalence of opportunistic infections. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous virus related to several malignancies, namely lymphoma; its prevalence in patients with IBD and its relation with different therapeutic regimens are not well studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients followed in our IBD outpatient clinic were consecutively enrolled for participation in a prospective study, and healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. EBV DNA was measured at least 1 time in each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and seventy-nine individuals were enrolled in the study (93 treated with 5-aminosalicylates, 91 with azathioprine, 70 with infliximab, 43 with combined treatment with infliximab and azathioprine, and 82 controls). More than 90% of the patients had previous EBV exposure. EBV DNA was found in 132 samples (35%); its prevalence was significantly higher in every group of patients with IBD, comparing to controls. Among patients with IBD, infliximab with or without azathioprine was related to higher prevalence of EBV comparing to azathioprine alone or 5-aminosalicylates (P < 0.05). Age above 60 years was related to EBV DNA positivity with a specificity of 92%. Concerning treated groups, ulcerative colitis was the only risk factor identified for high levels of EBV DNA (>1000 and 2500 copies per milliliter). No relationship was found between EBV and C-reactive protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IBD is a risk factor for the presence of EBV DNA in blood, particularly in older patients and in those taking infliximab. C-reactive protein was not related to EBV DNA prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Centro Hospitalar S. João, Porto, Portugal. fm@med.up.pt
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santos-Antunes
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vilas-Boas
authors.forename: Gonçalo N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Nair
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nazareth
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobrinho-Simões
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Cláudia Camila
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Amélia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarmento
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macedo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019804:Mesalamine; D000069285:Infliximab; D001379:Azathioprine