Comparative study between chronic immune thrombocytopenia patients and healthy population on Epstein-Barr virus infection status by polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) has been known to be associated with assorted virus infections. This study aims to investigate the Epstein-Barr virus infection status in chronic ITP patients by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

METHODS:

42 chronic ITP patients and 42 healthy donors were retrospectively included via propensity score matching with gender and age. EBV-DNA levels in whole blood of patients and donors were assessed by RT-qPCR, and correlations between virus load and platelet count were analyzed.

RESULTS:

The positive rate of EBV-DNA in lymphocytes of chronic ITP patients was significantly higher than that in donors (52.4% vs 31.0%, p = 0.046). Platelet count [18(8-45)×109/L] of patients with high virus load in lymphocytes was significantly lower than that [51(30-87)×109/L] of patients with low virus load (p = 0.0001), whereas no difference was observed in platelet count between EBV-DNA-positive and negative subgroups of donors (p = 0.984). And a significant inverse correlation was observed between EBV-DNA levels in lymphocytes and platelet count (r = -0.4958, p = 0.019) in patients, which was independent from the presence of platelet-associated IgG.

CONCLUSIONS:

EBV infection has a potential role in the development of chronic ITP. Identification and control of this underlying infection should be emphasized in the treatment of chronic ITP.

• Authors: Miao Yan, Ying Zhang, Fan Yang, Li Ji, Mangju Wang, Wensheng Wang
• Journal: Expert review of hematology (Expert Rev Hematol) Vol. 13 Issue 7 Pg. 781-786 (07 2020) ISSN: 1747-4094 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32498632 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• DNA, Viral

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers
• Case-Control Studies
• DNA, Viral
• Disease Management
• Disease Susceptibility
• Epstein-Barr Virus Infections (complications, diagnosis, virology)
• Female
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (genetics)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Platelet Count
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic (blood, diagnosis, etiology, therapy)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Viral Load
• Young Adult