Common Kissing Virus May Trigger Lupus, Study Finds

Epstein-Barr virus hijacks immune cells that cause lupus, researchers say.
Common Kissing Virus May Trigger Lupus, Study Finds
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A virus lurking silently in 95 percent of Americans may be the hidden culprit behind lupus, a debilitating autoimmune disease that has baffled doctors for generations.

Stanford researchers have identified the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the common virus that causes mononucleosis, to be a direct cause of systemic lupus erythematosus.

George Citroner
George Citroner
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George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.