Serodetection of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) among Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients in Khartoum State

Abstract

Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is associated with genesis of many human autoimmune diseases, especially Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Many studies have revealed a connection between SLE and EBV infection, which show increased levels of EBV-directed antibodies. This case-control study was aimed to detect EBV serologically among Sudanese SLE patients and healthy subjects. It was conducted at Military Hospital, during the period October 2019 to March 2021. A total of 92 paticipants (n=92) were included in this study with age ranged from 20-70 years with an average mean of 36.3±11.7 S.D, in which there were 46 patients with SLE and 46 apparently healthy persons matched in age and gender as controls. From the study participants, blood samples were collected and analyzed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the detection of IgM antibodies to EBV-Viral Capsid Antigens. Out of the 46 SLE patients 15/46 (32.6%) were positive for IgM anti-EBV-VCA antibodies, while 7/46 (15.2%) were positive among non-SLE individuals. Regarding age group, EBV was most frequent in age group 20 to 35 years among SLE patients and non-SLE individuals (7/15 (46.7%) and 6/7 (85.7%) respectively). There was no significant association between age and EBV infection in SLE patients (P=0.857) and non-SLE individuals (P=0.089). According to gender, EBV infection was found among SLE patients as follow: 10/15 (66.7%) were females and 5/15 (33.3%) were males positive to anti−EBV VCA with significant association (P=0.017) between gender and EBV infection. While non-SLE individuals, there were 6/7 (85.7%) males and 1/7 (14.3%) females were positive for IgM anti-EBV-VCA antibodies with significant association (P=0.040) between gender and EBV infection. From the above findings, the study concluded that the recent EBV infection was common among SLE patients and had high frequency among females. Hence, further researches must be carried out to determine the association between EBV and SLE as causal relationship.