RADIOIMMUNOPRECIPITATION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC ACTIVE EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTION

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection occurs sporadically in a small fraction of individuals infected with EBV. A clear definiti on of the disease and an unambiguous diagnostic test are still lacking . In an attempt to identify a serologic marker to facilitate the diagn osis, immunoblot and radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) were compar ed with standard immunofluorescence on 39 available sera. Results by R IPA revealed that antibodies to a 120 kDa viral protein correlated wit h the presence of chronic active EBV infection; these antibodies were not detected in sera from other EBV-seropositive individuals, with the exception of one of two patients with ataxia telangiectasia. Also, RI PA was the most sensitive technique for detecting EBV antibodies in se ra weakly or doubtfully positive for antibody to EB viral capsid antig en by indirect immunofluorescence. All these sera had antibodies to th e 150 kDa protein, also known as p160, the major viral capsid antigen. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.