Unusual Prevalence of Epstein-Barr Virus Early Antigen (EBV-EA) Antibodies in Ataxia Telangiectasia

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Abstract
EBV-EA antibodies are consistently present in the serum of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (1, 2) (NPC)2 and Burkitt's lymphoma (3) (BL) at least in the late stages of the disease. In contrast, only 50 to 70% of patients with infectious mononucleosis (4–6) and less than 10% of normal children and adults have detectable serum EA antibodies (4–6). These antibodies in almost all cases of infectious mononucleosis fall to undetectable levels within a year or two after the disease and in patients with Burkitt's tumor disappear during remission but will rise again if a relapse occurs (4–7). It is of interest, therefore, that a high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) antibodies was found in patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) in whom the incidence of lymphoma is increased (8). Materials and Methods. Patients. All 16 patients had well documented AT with progressive cerebellar ataxia, oculo cutaneous telangiectases, and pedigrees consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance.

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