Yonsei Med J.  2007 Apr;48(2):317-320. 10.3349/ymj.2007.48.2.317.

Anticonvulsant Hypersensitivity Syndrome Associated with Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation

• Chang JY
• Kim SC

• KMID: 1779537
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2007.48.2.317

Abstract

We describe a 59-year-old female with severe anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS) associated with Epstein- Barr virus (EBV) infection. The causative drug was speculated to be carbamazepine. Recurrent EBV infection was demonstrated by the presence of anti-EBV early antigen IgM antibodies and anti-EBV nuclear antigen IgG antibodies. To our knowledge, only one case of drug hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS) associated with EBV has been reported in the English- language literature. Our case is the second report of EBV-associated DHS, which suggests that EBV infection may contribute to the pathogenesis of AHS in a few patients.

Keyword

Carbamazepine; Epstein-Barr virus; hypersensitivity syndrome

MeSH Terms

Virus Activation/*physiology
Vacuoles/pathology
Middle Aged
Humans
Herpesvirus 4, Human/drug effects/pathogenicity
Female
Erythema/etiology/virology
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/*physiopathology
*Drug Hypersensitivity
Anticonvulsants/*adverse effects

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Erythematous maculopapular eruptions over the entire body.

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  Fig. 2 Basal cell vacuolization and lymphocytic infiltration. Note some atypical lymphocytes in the dermis.

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