Epstein-Barr virus polymerase chain reaction and serology in pediatric post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder: Three-year experience

Beverly Barton Rogers, John Sommerauer, Albert Quan, Charles F. Timmons, D. Brian Dawson, Richard H. Scheuermann, Karen Krisher, Carolyn Atkins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

To assess whether the semiquantitative peripheral blood Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test correlates with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD), we compiled the results of the test done over a 3-year period ending July 1997. Six hundred seventy-six tests were done on 185 patients. Four hundred-thirty tests (63%) were negative, 167 (25%) were weak positive, 67 (10%) were moderate positive, and 12 (2%) were strong positive. Twelve of the patients developed a lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) during this time. The EBV PCR tests proximate to the diagnosis of LPD in the 12 patients with EBV-positive LPD were 6 strong positive, 5 moderate positive, 1 weak positive. No patient with LPD had a negative result at diagnosis. Stated another way, 6/12 (50%) of strong-positive PCR tests, 5/67 (7%) moderate-positive tests, and 1/167 (.6%) of weak-positive tests correlated with LPD. Serologic evaluation for EBV done on 7 patients at the time of LPD showed low serologic responses in 5 of the 7 patients. The EBV PCR temporally associated with the serology indicated moderate to large viral burdens. In each patient evaluated serially, the EBV PCR test rose before the diagnosis of LPD and fell with treatment for the disorder. In conclusion, the EBV PCR test may be used as an adjunct to the diagnosis of patients with LPD and may be used to monitor response to therapy for the disorder.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)480-486
Number of pages7
JournalPediatric and Developmental Pathology
Volume1
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

Keywords

  • Epstein-Barr virus
  • Lymphoproliferative disorder
  • Polymerase chain reaction
  • Serology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Epstein-Barr virus polymerase chain reaction and serology in pediatric post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder: Three-year experience'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this