Increased Exposure To Epstein-Barr Virus Linked To Future Diagnosis Of Crohn’s Disease, Study Finds

Healio (4/3, Southall) reports a study found that “patients with Crohn’s disease had high Epstein-Barr virus seropositivity in the preclinical period and at diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.” Study results show that “patients with CD had increased exposure to herpesvirus 4, or Epstein-Barr virus (EPV), 5 to 7 years before diagnosis compared with healthy controls.” Additional results indicate “that individuals infected with EBV during this time were 3.05-times more likely to develop CD.” Researchers concluded, “We identified distinct viral exposure patterns in IBD, both at the preclinical stage and at diagnosis, with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis exhibiting significantly different profiles.” The study was published in Gastroenterology.