Kerr, Jonathan R · Journal of clinical pathology · 2019 · DOI
This review examines how Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that most people catch at some point in their lives, can become active again in the body—especially during stress—and may contribute to ME/CFS and other illnesses. The authors discuss ways to test for active EBV and review existing medications and supplements that might help prevent the virus from reactivating.
ME/CFS has been associated with EBV reactivation in subsets of patients, and understanding mechanisms of viral reactivation and available treatment options is crucial for developing targeted therapies. This review highlights that chronic EBV reactivation is rarely tested for in immunocompetent ME/CFS patients despite evidence of its involvement, suggesting a clinical gap that warrants investigation.
This review does not prove that EBV reactivation causes ME/CFS, nor does it establish the prevalence of EBV reactivation in ME/CFS populations. It does not provide clinical trial evidence that any proposed inhibitors are safe or effective in ME/CFS patients specifically. The review cannot determine whether EBV reactivation is a primary driver or secondary consequence of ME/CFS pathology.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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Primary citation
Kerr, Jonathan R (2019). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and therapeutic inhibitors.. Journal of clinical pathology. https://doi.org/10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205822
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-kerr-2019-epstein-barr-2,
author = {Kerr, Jonathan R},
title = {Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and therapeutic inhibitors.},
journal = {Journal of clinical pathology},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205822},
note = {PubMed: 31315893},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/kerr-2019-epstein-barr-2},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-27. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/kerr-2019-epstein-barr-2
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