Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and thrombocytopenia following Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) causes a broad spectrum of disease in humans with several clinical syndromes and is ubiquitous, infecting more than 95% of the world's population. Central Nervous System (CNS) disease alone associated with Epstein-Barr virus rarely occurs in previously healthy individuals. Systemic viral illness in children and complications are rare, but may occur. In few cases, it is associated with a variety of CNS and hematological complications like acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, neuropsychiatric syndrome, GBS, autoimmune thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia and they usually respond to immunotherapy. We report previously healthy boy, who presented with left sided weakness, headache and thrombocytopenia following EBV infection. The thrombocytopenia was resistant to intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone but responded well to Rituximab.

• Authors: Muhammad Saeed, Omar Dabbagh, Muhammad Al-Muhaizae, Hesham Dhalaan, Aziza Chedrawi
• Journal: Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP (J Coll Physicians Surg Pak) Vol. 24 Suppl 3 Pg. S216-8 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 1681-7168 [Electronic] Pakistan
• PMID: 25518779 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Immunologic Factors
• Rituximab
• Methylprednisolone

Topics

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Child
• Encephalitis, Viral (diagnosis, physiopathology, virology)
• Epstein-Barr Virus Infections (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Methylprednisolone (therapeutic use)
• Rituximab (therapeutic use)
• Thrombocytopenia (drug therapy, etiology, virology)
• Treatment Outcome