[Epstein-Barr infections in children with acute leukaemia. Preliminary report].

INTRODUCTION

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is common all over the world. Primary EBV infection can lead to latent or chronic infection resulting in lymphoproliferative diseases.

THE AIM: of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of laboratory methods used to detect EBV and to monitor EBV infections in children with acute leukaemia.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

we conducted the study on 30 children with acute leukaemia. For the present analysis we included 8 patients from whom samples were also taken three times. Studies were made on serum, blood and bone marrow. Specific IgM and IgG antibodies for viral capsid antigen (VCA), nuclear (EBN) and early antigen (EA) were tested by ELSA. The presence of DNA virus was estimated by nested PCR. The control group were 11 subjects, without chronic or neoplastic disease, undergoing routine laboratory tests in the Virology Department.

RESULTS

on admission serologied tests indicated past EBV infection in 6 out of the 8 children. Primary infection was detected in 2 patients, in one of them on day 1 of the observation and on day 22 in the other. DNA EBV was found by nested PCR in only one of the 8 infected children.

CONCLUSION

1. Results of serological investigations indicated the type of EBV infection in our patients. 2. Confirmation of EBV virus active replication by nased PCR was obtained in only 1 out of 8 patients. 3. In order to assess the effectiveness of serological and molecular methods in evaluation of EBV infection type in children with acute leukaemia, it is necessary to investigate a larger group of patients and taken at least three times.