Epstein-Barr virus is related with 5-aminosalicylic acid, tonsillectomy, and CD19(+) cells in Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To study anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgG antibodies in Crohn's disease in relation to treatment, immune cells, and prior tonsillectomy/appendectomy.


METHODS
This study included 36 CD patients and 36 healthy individuals (controls), and evaluated different clinical scenarios (new patient, remission and active disease), previous mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue removal (tonsillectomy and appendectomy) and therapeutic regimens (5-aminosalicylic acid, azathioprine, anti-tumor necrosis factor, antibiotics, and corticosteroids). T and B cells subsets in peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry (markers included: CD45, CD4, CD8, CD3, CD19, CD56, CD2, CD3, TCRαβ and TCRγδ) to relate with the levels of anti-EBV IgG antibodies, determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The lowest anti-EBV IgG levels were observed in the group of patients that were not in a specific treatment (95.4 ± 53.9 U/mL vs 131.5 ± 46.2 U/mL, P = 0.038). The patients that were treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid showed the highest anti-EBV IgG values (144.3 U/mL vs 102.6 U/mL, P = 0.045). CD19(+) cells had the largest decrease in the group of CD patients that received treatment (138.6 vs 223.9, P = 0.022). The analysis of anti-EBV IgG with respect to the presence or absence of tonsillectomy showed the highest values in the tonsillectomy group of CD patients (169.2 ± 20.7 U/mL vs 106.1 ± 50.3 U/mL, P = 0.002). However, in the group of healthy controls, no differences were seen between those who had been tonsillectomized and subjects who had not been operated on (134.0 ± 52.5 U/mL vs 127.7 ± 48.1 U/mL, P = 0.523).


CONCLUSIONS
High anti-EBV IgG levels in CD are associated with 5-aminosalicylic acid treatment, tonsillectomy, and decrease of CD19(+) cells.
Juan C Andreu-Ballester, Carlos García-Ballesteros, Research Department, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
Juan C
JC
Andreu-Ballester
Juan C Andreu-Ballester, Carlos García-Ballesteros, Research Department, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
Rafael
R
Gil-Borrás
Juan C Andreu-Ballester, Carlos García-Ballesteros, Research Department, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
Carlos
C
García-Ballesteros
Juan C Andreu-Ballester, Carlos García-Ballesteros, Research Department, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
Ignacio
I
Catalán-Serra
Juan C Andreu-Ballester, Carlos García-Ballesteros, Research Department, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
Victoria
V
Amigo
Juan C Andreu-Ballester, Carlos García-Ballesteros, Research Department, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
Virgina
V
Fernández-Fígares
Juan C Andreu-Ballester, Carlos García-Ballesteros, Research Department, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
Carmen
C
Cuéllar
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D015415:Biomarkers; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D019804:Mesalamine
5-aminosalicylic acid; B cells; Crohn’s disease; Epstein-Barr virus; Tonsillectomy