Effect of interferon-alpha therapy in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency and chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection.
We report an 18-year-old boy with common variable immunodeficiency who presented with splenomegaly as well as left axillary and lateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Main laboratory investigations showed severe thrombocytopenia. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA was detected in the patient's throat-washing specimens and lymph node biopsy. Lymphocytes from the lymph node biopsy were also positive for EBV nuclear antigen. Serology for EBV and cytomegalovirus was negative. A therapeutic attempt with acyclovir did not influence the course of infection. Six months' treatment with human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha (IFN alfa) brought about the normalization of clinical and hematologic conditions. Detection on throat-washing specimens carried out 1 year after therapy was negative. Our preliminary experience suggests that human lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha is a valid alternative in therapy of immunodeficient EB virus-infected patients.
Dipartimento di Pediatrica, II Università di Napoli, Italy.
R
R
Toraldo
M
M
D'Avanzo
C
C
Tolone
G
G
Canino
F
F
Iafusco
L D
LD
Notarangelo
A
A
Ugazio
C
C
Cirillo
D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017074:Common Variable Immunodeficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000628:therapy*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha