[Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections in patients treated with allogenic hematopoietic cells transplantation (allo-HCT)].

Objective: Assessment of frequency and clinical course of EBV infection in patients that underwent non-manipulated allo-HCT from matched-related donors.
Methods: Active EBV infection was confirmed based on the presence of anti-EA antibodies (ELISA) and/or viral DNA (nPCR) isolated from peripheral leukocytes. For positive DNA-isolations semi-quantitative analysis were done. Patients were examined repeatedly, the time of monitoring was approximately 6 +/- 5 months.
Results: Active EBV infection was confirmed in 27 among 56 examined allo-HCT recipients. Primary infection was detected in 5 patients, in the remaining patients it was probably the result of virus reactivation. In most cases EBV-load was approximately 200 copies per 1 million of leukocytes, 1 patient with lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) had 2 million copies. EBV infection was asymptomatic in most cases (17), in 7 cases aminotransferase levels were insignificantly increased, in 2--diarrhea was observed and in 4 patients GvHD was intensified.
Conclusions: In recipients without risk of PTLD, permanent monitoring of the EBV-load has no clinical justification.