title: Demyelinating disease after neurologically complicated primary Epstein-Barr virus infection.
abstract: This report describes five patients who, following a neurologically complicated primary Epstein-Barr virus infection, developed progressive or relapsing neurologic deficits. The sequelae in four patients followed 4 to 12 years led to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The fifth patient presented with acute disseminated sclerosis and exhibits diffuse neurologic deficits that have persisted for 2 years. We suggest that the diagnosis of an unexplained acute neurologic or psychiatric syndrome should raise the question of a primary EBV etiology. A precisely timed serologic and hematologic study of the blood is imperative to capture the essential evidence. The data presented represent a clinical association between a neurologically complicated primary EBV infection and both chronic and acute demyelinating disease. The evidence does not justify a conclusion that EBV virus causes MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Culp
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: McFarlin
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Panitch
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Torkelson
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schlight
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000150:complications*