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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 1999, p. 1113-1116, Vol. 37, No. 4
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Sera from Transplant Recipients with Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Ajit P. Limaye,1,* Meei-Li Huang,2 Ederlyn E. Atienza,2 James M. Ferrenberg,2 and Lawrence Corey2

Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medicine (Infectious Diseases), University of Washington,1 and Program in Infectious Diseases, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center,2 Seattle, Washington 98195-7110

Received 9 October 1998/Returned for modification 7 December 1998/Accepted 13 January 1999

Early diagnosis of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is important because many patients respond to reduction in immunosuppression, especially if PTLD is detected at an early stage. Previous studies have found elevated EBV DNA levels in blood from patients with PTLD, but these assays required isolation of cellular blood fractions and quantitation. We evaluated the presence of cell-free EBV DNA in serum from solid-organ transplant recipients as a marker for PTLD. Five of 6 transplant recipients with histopathologically documented PTLD had EBV DNA detected in serum at the time of diagnosis (sensitivity = 83%), compared with 0 of 16 matched transplant recipients without PTLD (specificity = 100%) (P < 0.001 [Fisher's exact test]). Furthermore, EBV DNA was detected in serum 8 and 52 months prior to the diagnosis of PTLD in two of three patients for whom stored sera were analyzed. Detection of EBV DNA in serum appears to be a useful marker for the early detection of PTLD in solid-organ transplant recipients. Further studies to define the role of such assays in evaluating solid-organ transplant patients at risk for PTLD are warranted.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: University of Washington Medical Center, Dept. of Laboratory Medicine, Box 357110, 1959 N.E. Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195-7110. Phone: (206) 598-2148. Fax: (206) 598-6189. E-mail: limaye{at}u.washington.edu.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 1999, p. 1113-1116, Vol. 37, No. 4
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. Clin. Microbiol. Rev.
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Copyright © 1999 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.