Korean J Intern Med.  2004 Jun;19(2):124-127.

A Case of Severe Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Infection with T-cell lymphoproliferative Disorder

• Cho HS
• Kim IS
• Park HC
• Ahn MJ
• Lee YY
• Park CK

Abstract

Chronic infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) without previous immunodeficiency or immuno-suppressive therapy is relatively rare. Severe chronic active EBV (SCAEBV) infection was reported for the first time in 1984 as 'chronic mononucleosis syndrome', and diagnostic criteria were proposed. It is characterized by clinical features including fever, severe hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, hematologic features such as anemia and thrombocytopenia, and elevated antibody titers to EBV. We experienced a 21-year-old woman who initially presented with fever and chronic fatigue; however, no definite diagnosis could be made at the time of admission. Three months after the initial admission, there was evidence of only splenomegaly and the patient had persistent, multiple, paraaortic lymphadenopathies in abdominal CT. Diagnostic splenectomy was performed, and SCAEBV infection with T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder was ultimately diagnosed.

Keyword

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) ; Severe chronic active EBV (SCAEBV) infection; Lymphoproliferative disorder; Splenectomy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Chronic Disease
Diagnosis, Differential
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/*complications/*diagnosis
Female
Humans
Lymphoproliferative Disorders/*diagnosis/pathology/virology
Severity of Illness Index
Splenectomy
*T-Lymphocytes
Tomography, X-Ray Computed