BACKGROUND: The presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is used as a marker of HIV-associated primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). In our setting, EBV DNA is frequently detected in the CSF of HIV-infected patients with miscellaneous neurological diseases and thus its presence is a poor predictor of PCNSL. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether quantification of EBV DNA in CSF improves its diagnostic specificity for PCNSL. STUDY DESIGN: EBV viral loads were determined on CSF samples from 55 HIV-infected patients with CNS disease. RESULTS: Twenty of the 55 patients had detectable EBV DNA in their CSF (median viral load 6120copies/ml, range 336-1,034,000copies/ml). PCNSL was confirmed in 2 patients. Their CSF EBV loads were 1,034,000 and 15,460copies/ml, respectively. Using a cut-off of 10,000copies/ml improved the specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) compared to a qualitative result for the diagnosis of PCNSL (96% vs. 66% and 50% vs. 10%, respectively). CONCLUSION: EBV DNA is commonly detected in CSF of HIV-infected patients. Quantitative PCR improves the diagnostic specificity, however, the PPV remains too low for it to be used as an isolated marker for PCNSL.
BACKGROUND: The presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is used as a marker of HIV-associated primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). In our setting, EBV DNA is frequently detected in the CSF of HIV-infectedpatients with miscellaneous neurological diseases and thus its presence is a poor predictor of PCNSL. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether quantification of EBV DNA in CSF improves its diagnostic specificity for PCNSL. STUDY DESIGN:EBV viral loads were determined on CSF samples from 55 HIV-infectedpatients with CNS disease. RESULTS: Twenty of the 55 patients had detectable EBV DNA in their CSF (median viral load 6120copies/ml, range 336-1,034,000copies/ml). PCNSL was confirmed in 2 patients. Their CSF EBV loads were 1,034,000 and 15,460copies/ml, respectively. Using a cut-off of 10,000copies/ml improved the specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) compared to a qualitative result for the diagnosis of PCNSL (96% vs. 66% and 50% vs. 10%, respectively). CONCLUSION:EBV DNA is commonly detected in CSF of HIV-infectedpatients. Quantitative PCR improves the diagnostic specificity, however, the PPV remains too low for it to be used as an isolated marker for PCNSL.
Authors: Michael J Peluso; Francesca Ferretti; Julia Peterson; Evelyn Lee; Dietmar Fuchs; Antonio Boschini; Magnus Gisslén; Nancy Angoff; Richard W Price; Paola Cinque; Serena Spudich Journal: AIDS Date: 2012-09-10 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: Sarah Gheuens; Brian P Buggy; Wieslawa Tlomak; Christian Wüthrich; Igor J Koralnik Journal: Clin Neurol Neurosurg Date: 2013-03-25 Impact factor: 1.876