Frequent intrathecal production of antibodies to the viral capsid antigen of Epstein-Barr virus in patients with central nervous system post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology 2022-08, Vol.369, p.577902-577902, Article 577902
• Main Authors: Otto, Carolin, Radbruch, Helena, Wilken, Diana, Lietzow, Tatjana, Steinhagen, Katja, Grage-Griebenow, Evelin, von Brünneck, Ann-Christin, Jarius, Sven, Hofmann, Jörg, Pache, Florence, Ruprecht, Klemens
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibody index; Central nervous system; Cerebrospinal fluid; Epstein-Barr virus, viral capsid antigen; Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577902

Primary central nervous system post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PCNS-PTLD) is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We analysed intrathecal production of EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) IgG in nine patients with PNCS-PTLD and 20 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases (NINDs). Intrathecally produced VCA-IgG was detected in 7/9 (78%), VCA-IgA in 6/9 (67%) and EBNA-1-IgG in 2/9 (22%) patients with PCNS-PTLD, but not in NINDs. This exploratory study suggests that intrathecal EBV antibody production might be frequent in PCNS-PTLD. Detecting intrathecally produced VCA-IgG and VCA-IgA could thus potentially be helpful for diagnosing PCNS-PTLD. •Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder rarely occurs in the CNS (PCNS-PTLD).•PCNS-PTLD is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).•We show that intrathecally produced anti-EBV antibodies are frequent in PCNS-PTLD.•Intrathecally produced anti-EBV antibodies could assist in diagnosing PCNS-PTLD.