High titer of antibody to the Epstein-Barr virus membrane antigen in sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

J Rheumatol. 1989 Aug;16(8):1029-32.

Abstract

Sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) contained more antibody to the Epstein-Barr virus membrane antigen (EBV MA) than sera from healthy controls. Since antibody titer to EBV MA closely correlates with viral neutralization, it was inferred that these patients were frequently exposed to infectious EBV, producing high titers of neutralizing antibody.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Viral Matrix Proteins*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
  • Viral Matrix Proteins