Viral DNA loads in various blood components of patients with Epstein-Barr virus-positive T/NK cell lymphoproliferative diseases.

Abstract

To evaluate diagnostic values for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA loads in different blood components of patients with EBV-positive T/NK cell lymphoproliferative diseases, EBV DNA loads were compared among disease categories in each blood component from 59 patients. Plasma viral loads were significantly higher in active disease in chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV). EBV DNA was not detected in the plasma from seven patients in whom EBV DNA was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and whole blood. Diagnostic cut-off values for whole blood EBV DNA loads of CAEBV patients as compared with those of infectious mononucleosis was 104.2 (=15,800) IU/ml.