Jog NR, et al. - Through 436 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient relatives who did not have SLE at baseline were analyzed by the researchers in order to determine the correlation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in EBV-associated host genes with SLE transition. In comparison to autoantibody negative non-transitioned relatives, higher mean baseline viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG and early antigen (EA) IgG levels were noticed. Further, increased VCA IgG and EA IgG were related to transitioning to SLE. Significant interactions in transitioning to SLE were remarked between CD40 variant rs48100485 and VCA IgG levels and IL10 variant rs3024493 and VCA IgA levels. Hence, an increase in the possibility of transitioning to SLE in unaffected SLE relatives was brought about via heightened serologic reactivation of EBV.