Has anyone experienced having a really bad case of Epstein bar virus and then finding out they had lupus?
Sorry to hear about your diagnoses. My daughter had Epstein Barr with fatigue four years ago. She got her lupus diagnosis last year. Certain viruses are associated with autoimmune conditions. eg EBV (and other Herpes viruses), CMV, Parvo B19 and Cocksackie.
When "environmental" factors (eg infection, stress/trauma, foods) combine in with a genetic susceptibility, it can turn on or trigger an inappropriate immune response in the form of inflammation / autoimmune antibodies in certain people. :(
There is a lot of discussion about this and a belief the 2 are connected. You’ve gotten some great responses here. As others mentioned, many in the medical field believe. The EBV is a trigger that kick starts autoimmune problems for those genetically predisposed
Yes, I had Epstein Barr followed by lupus years later. I also had Hashimotos thyroid.
I had mononucleosis which is a form of Epstein Barr when I was 11 years old and I was diagnosed this year at 46 years old with Lupus and I have read about the studies connecting the two... I'm very interested in this and I hope they find more info on it.