A case of a long-time survivor with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection

Eur J Haematol. 2004 Jan;72(1):73-6. doi: 10.1046/j.0902-4441.2004.00164.x.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with hypersensitivity to mosquito bites (HMB) and fatal EBV-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). The prognosis of patients with chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) is very poor. We report a rare case of an adult woman patient with a 28-yr history of HMB, who developed EBV-HPS. EBV genome was detected in the serum and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Clonal proliferation of EBV was demonstrated by Southern blot analysis using an EBV genome terminal-repeat probe. This is a very rare case of a long-term survivor with CAEBV. The patient was initially treated with immunochemotherapy and achieved complete remission. However, the patient immediately relapsed and underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from her HLA-matched brother. Peripheral blood cell recovered well, and EBV genome disappeared from the peripheral blood. Allogeneic BMT may be effective in eradicating EBV-HPS. Unfortunately, the patient died of graft vs. host disease on the 92nd day after BMT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Bites and Stings / immunology
  • Culicidae / immunology
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / immunology
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / therapy*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Genome, Viral
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Survivors
  • Time Factors