Periodic illness associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection.
A 15-year-old boy with a 13-year history of periodic fevers, lymphadenopathy, and leukocytosis showed virological, serological, immunohistologic, and molecular evidence of persistent, active, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Acyclovir and several other agents failed to alter his clinical course. Comprehensive immunological studies could not identify a defined immune deficiency syndrome to explain the persistent infection, although he does continue to have circulating polymeric EBV-specific immunoglobulin type A, as is seen in individuals during acute EBV infections. In vitro work suggests that this polymeric antibody prevents B cell infection by EBV. Cumulative data suggest that this patient suffers from a novel form of EBV infection.
Lekstrom-Himes
J A
JA
NIAID, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Dale
J K
JK
Kingma
D W
DW
Diaz
P S
PS
Jaffe
E S
ES
Straus
S E
SE
D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D010507:Periodicity; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral