Epstein‐barr virus serology in bone marrow transplantations: A one‐year retrospective study with detection of EBV IgM‐VCA‐specific antibodies

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Abstract
The specific antibody response to Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) antigens of 41 bone marrow transplant recipients with leukemia or aplastic anemia was examined retrospectively by immunofluorescence test (IF) over 1 year. We observed high titers (> 640) of IgG‐viral capsid antigen (VCA) with emergence of IgG‐early antigen (EA) and frequent absence or low levels of Epstein‐Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibodies. After absorption to remove rheumatoid factor (RF), five of the 41 recipients had IgM‐VCA antibody to EBV, which appeared between weeks 26 and 48 after BMT and persisted for 1–4 months. No heterophil antibodies were detected in these sera, and none of the five recipients had a history of infectious mononucleosis.