Epstein–Barr virus in pleural effusions: protagonist or pretender?. Issue 4 (31st October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arnold, David T.; Suri, Tim; Hamilton, Fergus; Morley, Anna; Medford, Andrew; Vipond, Ian B.; Muir, Peter; Maskell, Nick A.
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 54:Issue 4(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10-31
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00825-2019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

Unilateral pleural effusions are a common diagnostic challenge for the respiratory physician. In the majority of patients, a diagnosis can be made according to medical history, computed tomography and pleural fluid analysis [1]. A proportion of patients will require a pleural biopsy but, following this, a minority will remain undiagnosed and are defined as having inflammatory pleuritis (IP) [2]. These patients often require extended follow-up to ensure effusion resolution and exclude malignancy. Previous studies have suggested an association between Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and inflammatory pleuritis (IP). The incidence of IP in this 1005-patient cohort was 3%, with no evidence of increased pleural fluid EBV DNA compared to controls. http://bit.ly/2lVGvNV