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Abstract
The aim of the study presented here was to set up and standardize a semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction method for monitoring Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels in blood and saliva samples from transplant recipients and to determine the value of these levels as an early marker for the development of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders. EBV DNA load was prospectively measured in 53 adult kidney transplant recipients. Results were correlated with clinical features and degree of immunosuppression. Healthy blood donors and patients with infectious mononucleosis were used as controls. Levels higher than 500 EBV DNA copies/75,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells were found in all patients with infectious mononucleosis and in all patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder but in only 7.5% of transplant recipients without that complication.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]