Prevalence of Epstein–Barr Virus in a population of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective cohort study. Issue 10 (20th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Linton, M. S.; Kroeker, K.; Fedorak, D.; Dieleman, L.; Fedorak, R. N.
• Is Part Of: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. Volume 38:Issue 10(2013)
• Page Start: 1248
• Page End: 1254
• Publication Date: 2013-09-20
• Subjects: Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Effect of drugs on -- Periodicals; Gastrointestinal system -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Gastrointestinal system -- Effect of drugs on -- Periodicals; 615.73
• DOI: 10.1111/apt.12503
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-2813

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="apt12503-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="apt12503-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) is truly prolific, with a prevalence of more than 90% in the adult human population. There are, however, little data available on the prevalence of EBV among patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a population that is frequently immunosuppressed and thus at risk for severe, often fatal, primary infection.</p> </sec> <sec id="apt12503-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To identify the prevalence of EBV in a population of patients with IBD and to compare it with that of the general population.</p> </sec> <sec id="apt12503-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A database of 2500 IBD patients previously followed at the University of Alberta IBD Centre was queried; 60 of these patients were randomly chosen to participate. A total of 220 patients attending the IBD Centre for clinical appointment were also prospectively asked to participate. Participants completed serological testing for VCA‐IgM, VCA‐IgG and EBNA‐IgG, to determine prior EBV exposure.</p> </sec> <sec id="apt12503-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>A total of 263 patients underwent testing. Results for EBV seroprevalence of specific age groups were as follows: 18–20 years (<italic>n</italic> = 17), 29% seronegative; 21–25 years (<italic>n</italic> = 31), 29% seronegative; 26–30 years (<italic>n</italic> = 35), 31–35 years (<italic>n</italic> = 18) and 36–40 years (<italic>n </italic>= 25), 100% seropositive. Finally, 3% of those older than 40 (<italic>n</italic> = 117) were seronegative. EBV seroprevalence was similar for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Azathioprine was associated with seropositivity (<italic>P</italic> = 0.048).</p> </sec> <sec id="apt12503-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The prevalence of EBV seronegativity in the IBD population aged 18–25 years was similar to that described in the general population, and above age 25 years, seropositivity approached 100%.</p> </sec> </abstract>