Clinical features and comorbidities of Epstein–Barr virus infection in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus with a focus on macrophage activation syndrome: a cross-sectional study of 200 patients

EBV infection is independently associated with an increased risk of MAS in cSLE patients and is linked to more pronounced complement consumption and specific clinical manifestations such as neurological symptoms and serositis. This study underscores the importance of EBV screening in cSLE patients for the early vigilance and management of MAS.