Association between epstein-barr virus viremia and cardiac function in children and young adults with perinatally acquired HIV

Abstract

Introduction: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) affects greater than 95% of the global population, and when acquired at an early age, results in poor control of viral replication and increased risk to subsequent chronic illnesses. Objective: To analyse the association between EBV and early cardiac dysfunction. Methods: A cross-sectional echocardiographic study on children, adolescent and young adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Eldoret, Kenya. We collected echocardiograms, viral copy levels, and inflammatory markers. We compared EBV-positive participants to EBV-negative participants. Results: The majority of patients with EBV copies detected were male, median (25–75%) age of 15 (11–19) years and did not have signs of early cardiac dysfunction. No significant differences were observed in cardiac function between individuals with detectable and undetectable EBV copies (p = 0.472; p = 0.6140; p = 0.382 respectively). Conclusion: In this population of individuals, no significant difference in cardiac function between individuals with detectable and undetectable EBV copies was observed.