Antibodies to Epstein-Barr Virus at the Ages of 6 to 23 Months in Children with Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Sera of 86 children with congenital heart defects aged 6–23 months (mean age 11.4 months) and 113 controls of corresponding age distribution were collected during a 16-month period and tested for the presence of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). No significant difference in the proportion of antibody-positive children (10.5% and 8.8%, respectively) and in the incidence of high titres (4.7% and 1.8%, respectively) was demonstrable. It is evident that EBV is not a major factor in the aetiology of congenital heart disease.