Negative correlation between latent Epstein-Barr virus infection and severity of illness in IBD patients

Abstract Background: Inflammatory bowel (IBD) disease plays an important role in the prevention and disease management. Immunosuppressive therapies have been found to induce IBD pathogenesis and reactivate latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) . This study was aimed to explore the clinical significance of latent EBV infection in IBD patients. Methods: Latent EBV infection was determined by double staining for EBV encoded RNA (EBER) and CD20 in colon specimens of 43 IBD patients who underwent bowel resection. Based on the staining results, the patients were divided into two groups, according to their latent EBV infection states - negative (n=33) and positive (n=10). The clinic-pathological data were analyzed between the two different latent EBV groups and also between the mild-to-moderate and severe disease groups.Results: Systolic pressure (P=0.005), variety of disease (P=0.005), the severity of illness (P=0.002), and pre-op corticosteroids (P=0.025) were significantly different between the EBV-negative and EBV-positive groups. Systolic pressure (P=0.001), variety of disease (P=0.000), pre-op corticosteroids (P=0.011) and EBV infection (P=0.003) were significantly different between the mild-to-moderate and severe disease groups.Conclusions: IBD patients with latent EBV infection may manifest more severe illnesses. It is suggested that the role of EBV in IBD development should be further investigated and latent EBV infection in patients with serious IBD should be closely monitored, and therapeutic course should be optimized.