Usefulness of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in following up patients with Epstein-Barr virus infection after liver transplantation

Background. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), which is ma inly induced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, is a cause of significa nt morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing liver transplantation, e specially when it is detected at such an advanced stage as monoclonal malig nant lymphoma. Methods. In this series, 6 of 22 liver transplant patients suffered from EB V infection. We tested quantitative DNA (Qt-DNA) by real-time polymerase ch ain reacton (PCR), qualitative DNA in plasma (Q1-pDNA) by PCR, and EBV-enco ded mRNA 1 (EBER 1) by in situ hybridization to clarify which of them is a better marker for the early diagnosis and prediction of EBV-associated diso rders. Results. Four had signs or symptoms of PTLD, but 2 did not develop individu alized lymphoid lesions. In all patients, both Qt-DNA and EBER 1 exceeded t he cut-off level of 10(2.5) copies/mu g DNA and 0.002%, respectively, at th e time of diagnosis, In 2 patients, when Qt-DNA had a poor decline, EBER 1, even if it seemed to decrease after antiviral therapy, increased again aft er a few months and the clinical symptoms recurred. In 2 patients, Qt-DNA a nd EBER 1 increased again after a few months of antiviral therapy, and Q1-p DNA remained positive, whereas, in 3 patients, no reaction of EBV could be detected once Q1-pDNA became negative, even after the cessation of therapy. Conclusions. These results suggest that real-time PCR for Qt-DNA was more s ensitive to the real-time activity of EBV and that Q1-pDNA could indicate w hen to stop antiviral therapy.