Epstein-Barr Virus Directly Triggers Lupus in Breakthrough Study

According to a groundbreaking study published on 2025-11-13, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can directly prompt the immune system to go rogue and cause the chronic autoimmune condition lupus. Lupus, which affects nearly 5 million people worldwide, is a debilitating disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own cells and organs.

The study, conducted by researchers at Stanford University, has revealed that EBV, a virus that infects the vast majority of people by adulthood, can trigger a cascading effect that leads to the development of lupus. While most people harbor a dormant EBV infection, the virus can occasionally activate certain immune cells, causing them to become "highly inflammatory" and launch a widespread assault on the body's own tissues and organs.

Existing treatments for lupus can only slow the progression of the disease, but do not offer a cure. For about 5% of lupus patients, the condition can even be life-threatening. Interestingly, the study also found that 9 out of 10 lupus patients are women, though the reasons for this gender disparity remain unclear.

The researchers believe that their findings may have implications beyond just lupus, potentially extending to other autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease. However, it remains uncertain why only some individuals develop autoimmune conditions despite the prevalence of latent EBV infections.