Coincidence of Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, cytomegalovirus infection, and rejection episodes in renal transplant recipients

Abstract

Reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus was reported to occur frequently under immunosuppressive therapy following organ transplantation. However, little is known about the clinical significance of these EBV reactivations. Therefore, we searched for correlations among the treatment with various immunosuppressive drugs, the incidence of CMV infections, rejection crises, and serological signs of EBV reactivation. EBV-specific antibodies were measured with novel ELISAs, utilizing the recombinant antigens p72 (for anti-EBV nuclear antigen [EBNA]1-IgG), p54, and p138 (anti-early antigen [EA]-IgM, -IgG, -IgA) in a follow-up study of 79 renal transplant recipients. Patients receiving antithymocyte globulin or antilymphocyte globulin therapy showed increasing anti-EA-IgG and -IgA more often than did patients not receiving antithymocyte globulin or antilymphocyte globulin therapy (P < 0.05). In patients receiving OKT3 antirejection therapy, anti-EA-IgM seroconversion was found more frequently (P < 0.01). A significant correlation was also found between groups of patients who had had at least one rejection episode versus patients without any sign of organ rejection, and the incidence of increasing anti-EA-IgG (P < 0.05). Since in most of these patients signs of EBV reactivation followed the appearance of the rejection episode, this may not be due to viral-induced rejection but may be caused by the reinforced immunosuppression during antirejection therapy. As opposed to patients with no signs of CMV infection and with nonsymptomatic CMV infection, patients undergoing symptomatic CMV infection showed anti-EA-IgM seroconversion (P < 0.01), increasing anti-EA-IgA (P < 0.01), and decreasing anti-EBNA-IgG (P < 0.01) more frequently. Our results confirm the role of immunosuppressive therapy in the pathogenesis of EBV reactivation. We further demonstrate a striking coincidence of EBV reactivation and symptomatic CMV infection.