title: Fulminant hepatitis due to Epstein-Barr virus infection.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus infection is a benign disease, which may occasionally be fatal, particularly in children. Epstein-Barr virus infection is rare in elderly subjects and appears to have a self-limited course. An unusual case of fulminant hepatitis due to primary Epstein-Barr virus infection in a 62-year-old male 18 days after a cardiosurgical operation and blood transfusions is described in the present paper. Post-mortem examination of the liver showed massive hepatic necrosis. The etiology was established by increase in IgM antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (titer 1:3.120) in serum and by cellular expression of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in liver tissue.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Western Attica General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Papatheodoridis
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Delladetsima
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kavallierou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapranos
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Tassopoulos
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged