Abstract:
Chronic DNA viral infections represent a growing area of concern in pediatric medicine due to their potential role in initiating and sustaining connective tissue dysfunction. This study investigates the clinical and immunological correlations between persistent herpesvirus infections—including Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human herpesviruses types 3 and 6—and structural and functional changes in connective tissue among children and adolescents.
Data were collected from 17,944 patients examined between 2019 and 2024 at AmedaClinic North-West, a herpes diagnostics and treatment center in St. Petersburg. Among them, 1,267 pediatric patients showed significantly elevated IgG titers and positivity coefficients for one or more DNA viruses. Statistical associations were observed between viral carriage and a wide spectrum of disorders, including mitral valve prolapse, joint anomalies, dysplastic syndromes, autonomic dysfunction, neurodevelopmental delay, immune dysregulation, and elevated autoimmune markers (anti-dsDNA, anti-collagen, and anti-glycoprotein antibodies).
The findings suggest a potential pathogenetic role of latent or chronic viral persistence in connective tissue remodeling and systemic inflammation. The observed tropism of DNA viruses to mesenchymal-derived tissues highlights the need for early identification and long-term monitoring in pediatric populations. These results challenge the conventional paradigm of limiting antiviral interventions to the acute phase and emphasize the relevance of subclinical or chronic infections as contributors to multisystemic pediatric conditions.
This study advocates for the inclusion of connective tissue markers and viral persistence screening in pediatric diagnostic protocols, particularly in cases of unexplained dysplasia, immunologic abnormalities, or developmental delays. Further research is warranted to clarify the mechanisms of viral-induced tissue remodeling and to define evidence-based treatment strategies for chronic DNA viral infections in childhood.
