Evaluation of a recombinant line blot for diagnosis of Epstein-Barr Virus compared with ELISA, using immunofluorescence as reference method.

A commercial line blot using recombinant antigens was compared with a commercial ELISA and 'in-house' IFA (reference test). Two panels were evaluated: Panel A was selected to distinguish between primary infections (89), past infections (20) and seronegatives (8) in immunocompetent individuals. In panel B, patients with a high number of reactivations were included: immunosuppressed patients (37), lymphoma (19), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (10), chronic fatigue syndrome (14).

Novel immunoblot assay using four recombinant antigens for diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus primary infection and reactivation.

A new immunoblot assay, composed of four Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded recombinant proteins (virus capsid antigen [VCA] p23, early antigen [EA] p138, EA p54, and EBNA-1 p72), was compared with an immunofluorescence assay on a total of 291 sera. The test was accurate in 94.5% of cases of primary EBV infection, while an immunoglobulin G anti-VCA p23 band with strong intensity correlated with reactivation.

[Two cases of benign polypes of the ureter (author's transl)].

The polyp of the ureter is a tumour which originates in the connective tissue and is covered by normal urothelium. Radical surgery is justified in some of these urothelial tumours but one should also consider a more conservative attitude when one deals with a benign fibro-epithelial polyp of the ureter especially when they are located in the lower or upper third of the ureter. We present two cases, one which represents the eleventh case of benign fibro-epithelial polyp described in children in the literature.