Epstein-Barr May Be Therapeutic Target in SLE

“If you accept the idea that the virus is a necessary condition in order to develop lupus—just hypothetically—then if a way was developed to rid the body of the virus and the virus' presence was needed to sustain the disease, then that would be a new therapeutic approach,” he said.

Disclosures: Dr. Harley disclosed that he is on the board of directors of IVAX Diagnostics and JK Autoimmunity. He is also a consultant to UCB and Bio-Rad Laboratories.

As EBV's role in the pathogenesis of SLE becomes understood, 'there will be new opportunities for treatment.'

Source DR. HARLEY