Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus in neurological diseases.

An association of evidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in 3 different cases of neurological disease not related to infectious monomucleosis is reported. A rise in antibody titres to EBV-viral capsid antigen (VCA) and early antigen (EA) in the serum and CSF was demonstrated in a patient with acute encephalitis and in a patient with a psychotic-like organic brain syndrome. Both patients demonstrated albuminocytological dissociation in the cerebrospinal fluid. IgM antibodies specific to EBV-VCA indicating a primary infection by EBV were found in both patients. In the second, concomitant infection with HSV1 probably preceding EBV infection was found. In the third patient with polyneuritis, elevated antibody titres to EBV-VCA were demonstrated. No evidence of penetration of antibodies to EBV through the blood-brain barrier, resulting from the elevated level in the serum, was demonstrated.