Detection of active Epstein-Barr infection in pregnant women

Abstract

Sera taken from pregnant patients and their newborns at delivery were examined for evidence of primary or reactivated Epstein-Barr virus infection. Of 102 women, 37 showed serological signs of reactivated and two signs of primary infection. A mild congenital defect was observed in association with one of the two cases of maternal primary infection. Infants of mothers with reactivated infections remained healthy during the one year follow-up after birth.

Hypothesis: Could Epstein‐Barr virus play a role in the development of gastroschisis?

“…A greater effect of risk factors for gastroschisis in older women might also be caused by the known inverse association with immune function and age (Boon et al, 2002;Schindowski et al, 2002). Indeed, EBV reactivation in pregnancy was observed to be more common in older women (Costa et al, 1985). Thus, exposures in younger women with stronger immune response might be less likely to trigger EBV reactivation.…”

“…Serologic evidence of reactivation has been observed to be higher in pregnant than in nonpregnant women, although PCR detection of EBV DNA in B cells was not higher in pregnant women (Meyohas et al, 1996). EBV reactivation is reported to occur during pregnancy in 13 to 55% of women, based on the presence of antibodies to EBV early antigen (Fleisher and Bolognese, 1982;Costa et al, 1985;Meyohas et al, 1996), and during the first trimester in 5% of women, based on antibodies to EBV viral capsid antigen and on antibodies to EBV replication activator protein ZEBRA (Lehtinen et al, 2003;Tedeschi et al, 2007). Second, some of the known cellular effects of EBV infection leave open the possibility of a role in the development of gastroschisis.…”

Human herpes virus 6 or Epstein–Barr virus were not detected in Guthrie cards from children who later developed leukaemia

“…The experience of EBV in the transplant setting clearly illustrates the ability of the EBV virus to reactivate during immunosuppression and its oncological potential. Besides the transplant setting, EBV is also frequently reactivated during pregnancy (Costa et al , 1985). The seroprevalence of EBV in adults has been reported to be higher than 90% (Rickinson, 1996).…”

Seroprevalence of Human Herpes Simplex, Hepatitis B and Epstein-Barr Viruses in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Southern Iran

“…Lethal lymphoproliferative disease in patients undergoing organ and stem cell transplantation is a result of EBV reactivation [19] and this demonstrates its onclogical potential. Besides the transplant setting, EBV is also frequently reactivated during pregnancy [26]. Lehtinen and colleagues [27] showed that reactivation of EBV during the first trimester of pregnancy, increases the risk of ALL in the offspring.…”