Monitoring of Epstein–Barr virus load and killer T cells in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with methotrexate or tocilizumab

Abstract

Objectives: Methotrexate (MTX) is used for the treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and an anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody (tocilizumab: TCZ) is also used and added for the treatment of intractable JIA. It has been reported that MTX might induce Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoma, but the discussion about the effect of MTX and/or TCZ against reactivation of EBV in pediatric patients has been incomplete.Methods: The EBV loads in four polyarticular JIA and three systemic arthritis JIA patients treated with MTX and/or TCZ, and the percentage of EBV-specific killer T cells (EBV-CTLs) in some patients were prospectively monitored.Results: No patients had EBV-associated symptoms during the observation period. EBV loads in all patients were not significantly increased, and the levels of EBV loads were the same as EBV-seropositive healthy children following the administration of MTX and/or TCZ. EBV-CTLs were detectable during the observation period, but some patients had slightly low levels of EBV-CTLs.Conclusion: Treatment with MTX and/or TCZ did not severely affect EBV load and prevent induction of EBV-CTLs in JIA patients.