TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictive value of epstein-barr virus genome copy number and BZLF1 expression in blood lymphocytes of transplant recipients at risk for lymphoproliferative disease
AU - Vajro, Pietro
AU - Lucariello, Stefania
AU - Migliaro, Fiorella
AU - Sokal, Etienne
AU - Gridelli, Bruno
AU - Vegnente, Angela
AU - Iorio, Raffaele
AU - Smets, Françoise
AU - Quinto, Ileana
AU - Scala, Giuseppe
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome numbers and RNA transcripts from the immediate-early EBV gene BZLF1 were monitored by means of polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of 44 children who received liver transplants. The 2 tests were compared, using several parameters to assess their value as predictors of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). All patients were infected with EBV. BZLF1 mRNA was positive in 70% of patients, with highest expression in those with largest virus load. Four patients developed PTLD that could not be unequivocally diagnosed by any of the parameters considered alone. Sensitivity of EBV genome number (≥40,000 EBV copies/105 PBLs) and BZLF1 mRNA (BZLF1: glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate-dehydrogenase ratio ≥0.5) was 100%. Specificity of each of the 2 tests alone (98% and 58%, respectively) improved (to 100% and 83%, respectively) when measurement of serum IgG level was included. Because decreased virus load, but not BZLF1 mRNA expression, accurately predicted favorable responses of PTLD to therapy, monitoring of EBV genome numbers alone appears sufficient in children with liver transplants.
AB - Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome numbers and RNA transcripts from the immediate-early EBV gene BZLF1 were monitored by means of polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of 44 children who received liver transplants. The 2 tests were compared, using several parameters to assess their value as predictors of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). All patients were infected with EBV. BZLF1 mRNA was positive in 70% of patients, with highest expression in those with largest virus load. Four patients developed PTLD that could not be unequivocally diagnosed by any of the parameters considered alone. Sensitivity of EBV genome number (≥40,000 EBV copies/105 PBLs) and BZLF1 mRNA (BZLF1: glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate-dehydrogenase ratio ≥0.5) was 100%. Specificity of each of the 2 tests alone (98% and 58%, respectively) improved (to 100% and 83%, respectively) when measurement of serum IgG level was included. Because decreased virus load, but not BZLF1 mRNA expression, accurately predicted favorable responses of PTLD to therapy, monitoring of EBV genome numbers alone appears sufficient in children with liver transplants.
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U2 - 10.1086/315495
DO - 10.1086/315495
M3 - Article
C2 - 10837191
AN - SCOPUS:0034046928
VL - 181
SP - 2050
EP - 2054
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
SN - 0022-1899
IS - 6
ER -