Aygun D, Kuskucu MA, Sahin S, et al. - Children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were examined for their immune response to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) antigens in addition to EBV and BK polyomavirus DNA. Further, the differences between these serological results and those from another connective tissue disease – juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSS) – and healthy individuals were ascertained. Researchers assessed a total of 70 juvenile SLE (jSLE) patients, 14 jSS patients and 44 gender-matched healthy individuals in the study. jSLE patients had significantly higher EBV early antigen diffuse IgG positivity compared with jSS patients and healthy controls (20% vs 7.1% and 0%). Further, there was correlation of EBV viral capsid antigen positivity with malar rash and immunological disorder. Findings suggested the presence of a relationship between SLE and EBV, but there was no evidence supporting an association between cytomegalovirus and BK polyomavirus. In contrast to serological positivity, they observed negative DNA results; this can be interpreted as an altered and impaired immune system and enhanced viral susceptibility. Per these results, there is contribution of EBV in disease continuity, even if it does not directly cause development.