Inflammatory Bowel Disease Exacerbation Associated With Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

Abstract

Although causality could not be determined, the significantly higher prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in intestinal tissue from patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared with controls and in patients with exacerbation compared with patients in remission suggests a potential viral involvement in the severity of inflammatory bowel disease. These findings merit further investigation in view of a potential for usefulness of antiviral therapy against Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease.