title: Epstein-Barr virus infection in children with renal transplantation: 17 years experience at a single center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to detect the frequency, time of occurrence, management and outcome of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and related complications in pediatric renal transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric renal allograft recipients transplanted between August 1994 and December 2011 at our hospital was evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups; Groups 1 and 2 were composed of patients transplanted before and after November 2007, respectively, when plasma EBV DNA levels were periodically measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 166 children, 89 (53.6%) boys, with a mean age of 12.2 ± 3.8 years. Prior to transplantation, 144 patients (86.7%) were EBV seropositive. Within a median follow-up period of 36 months, 11 of 22 seronegative children (50%) developed primary EBV infection. EBV reactivation was observed in 23 of 144 children (15.9%). Two patients with primary infection developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, one of whom died. Elevated serum creatinine levels or graft loss were not observed in any patient with EBV reactivation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBV DNA monitoring by PCR in high-risk pediatric renal transplant recipients will provide early diagnosis and treatment of EBV infections.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Nephrology, Akdeniz University , Antalya , Turkey .
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Comak
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: Gozde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ongut
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koyun
authors.forename: Cagla Serpil
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saglik
authors.forename: Arife Uslu
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Gokceoglu
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dinckan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Children; Epstein–Barr virus infection; renal transplantation