High titer of antibody to the Epstein-Barr virus membrane antigen in sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract

Sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) contained more antibody to the Epstein-Barr virus membrane antigen (EBV MA) than sera from healthy controls. Since antibody titer to EBV MA closely correlates with viral neutralization, it was inferred that these patients were frequently exposed to infectious EBV, producing high titers of neutralizing antibody.