Epstein-Barr virus infection and its association with systemic lupus erythematosus: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by the production of autoantibodies that target most of the organ systems and lead to their dysfunction. The exact etiology of SLE remains unclear; however, genetic and environmental factors are believed to play significant roles. Viral infections, particularly Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), have been implicated as environmental triggers in SLE pathogenesis however, the observations remained inconsistent among studies and populations.