[Epstein-Barr virus infection and immunoglobulin abnormalities in renal transplant recipients].

The relationship between immunoglobulin abnormalities and EBV infection has been investigated in 65 renal transplant patients. Immunoglobulins abnormalities were demonstrated in 44 (68%) patients, 8 of them (18%, 12% of all patients) had a monoclonal component. Up to now no lymphoproliferative disorder has been observed in these patients. All patients were EBV seropositive at the beginning of the study and in 22 of them (33%) a reactivation of EBV infection could be demonstrated. No relation has been observed between immunoglobulin abnormalities, EBV reactivation, age or sex. By contrast, a significant relation was found between EBV reactivation and immunosuppressive treatment: patients under triple therapy with Azathioprine, Cyclosporine A and Prednisone had less EBV reactivation compared to those under Cyclosporine A treatment.