Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encephalitis has been infrequently described in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a unique case of biopsy-proven EBV encephalitis in a renal transplant recipient presenting with altered mental status, prominent visual disturbances, and hemorrhagic, ring-enhancing mass lesions on magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was successfully treated with a prolonged course of antivirals. This case illustrates the difficulty in interpretation of cerebrospinal fluid EBV polymerase chain reaction assay, given the lack of specificity in immunocompromised patients.
Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; encephalitis; ganciclovir; immunocompromise; post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder; primary central nervous system lymphoma; renal transplant; valganciclovir.
© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.