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Immune and viral markers in adolescent chronic fatigue following Epstein-Barr virus infection: A cross-sectional study

Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction\nAcute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a trigger of chronic fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This cross-sectional study investigated symptoms as well as infectious and immune markers in fatigued and non-fatigued adolescents 6 months after EBV-infection, and in healthy controls.\n\nMaterials and methods\nA total of 200 adolescents (12-20 years old) with acute EBV infection were assessed 6 months after the initial infectious event and divided into fatigued (EBV CF+) and non-fatigue (EBV CF-) cases based on questionnaire score. The EBV CF+ cases were further sub-divided according to case definitions of CFS. In addition, a group of 70 healthy controls with similar distribution of sex and age was included. Laboratory assays included EBV PCR and serology, detailed blood leukocyte phenotyping and serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein. Symptoms were mapped with a questionnaire. This study is part of the CEBA-project (Chronic fatigue following acute Epstein-Barr virus infection in adolescents).\n\nResults\nThe EBV CF+ group had significantly higher infectious symptom score (p<0.001). All markers of infection and most markers of immune responses were similar across the EBV CF+ and EBV CF- group, but the EBV CF+ group had slightly higher serum C-reactive protein (0.5 vs 0.4 mg/L, p=0.043, high-sensitive assay) and T cell (CD3+) fraction (79.9 vs 77.5 %, p=0.011), and there were non-significant trends towards higher T cell (CD3+)total count and lower B cell (CD19+) fraction. Subgrouping according to different CFS diagnostic criteria did not alter the results. However, when stratified by sex, differences in serum CRP\nwere significant among males only, whereas the female subgroup was characterized by significantly higher T cell (CD3+) as well as helper T cell (CD4+) total count.\n\nConclusions\nIn adolescents, chronic fatigue and CFS 6 months after acute EBV infection is associated with symptoms of persistent infection, but no signs of increased viral load and only subtle alterations of immune markers.
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2966631462
Cites: 35
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Related to: 10