The role of Epstein-Barr virus in systemic lupus erythematosus.

摘要: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a devastating autoimmune disease with no known cure. Lupus patients suffer from myriad of clinical symptoms which variably include arthritis, pleuritis, pericarditis, vasculitis, and nephritis. The underlying mechanisms behind these findings the etiologic events preceding causing onset, however, remain largely unknown. For many years, investigators have suspected that Epstein-Barr virus might somehow be involved in etiology and/or pathogenesis systemic lupus. Numerous studies examined this possibility various angles arrived at different conclusions. This work reviews historical papers context new results presents hypothetical role for as an etiological environmental trigger SLE.