Web of Science-Based Visualization of Mapping Global Scientific Production on Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Autoimmune Diseases: A Bibliometric Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in autoimmune diseases (AIDs), yet a comprehensive analysis of global research trends, knowledge gaps, and translational opportunities remains lacking. Therefore, we aimed to study the research output of EBV-associated AIDs globally.

METHODS

All publications related to EBV-associated AIDs from 1993 to 2023 were collected from the Science Citation Index-Expanded of Web of Science. Subsequently, the data were evaluated using the bibliometric methodology. Bibliometrix package in R software was used for data retrieval. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to visualize the research focus and trend regarding the effect of EBV-associated AIDs.

RESULTS

We analyzed 1589 publications to explore the global scientific landscape on EBV-associated AIDs. Growth in publications exhibited two peaks, with post-2020 acceleration coinciding with increased interest in EBV's immunological role. The USA exhibited the highest publications with 543 publications, many of which investigated molecular pathways such as lipid metabolism in EBV-associated AIDs. Then, Italy (n = 161) and Japan (n = 140) took the second and third places, respectively. Among the institutions involved, Tel Aviv University provided the biggest nodes in each cluster of the cooperation network. The most frequently cited author in the field, according to our results, was Shoenfeld Y. Finally, the results of keyword co-occurrence analysis showed that systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis are the most extensively investigated topics in this study area.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights pivotal milestones in EBV-AIDs research and proposes future directions, including genetic-host immune system interaction, prevention trials, and collaborative mechanisms. Prioritizing these emerging hotspots could advance therapeutic strategies and interdisciplinary synergies.