title: Acute Epstein-Barr virus infection in two elderly individuals.
abstract: Most individuals acquire Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in young age. Because of uncommon presentation and misdiagnosis, clinical manifestations are less well described in older age. We present two cases of elderly patients with predominant symptoms attributed to cold agglutinin haemolytic anaemia due to acute EBV infection without fever, lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis or splenomegaly. We conclude that misleading clinical manifestations are frequent in older individuals and may lead to inappropriate diagnostic invasive procedures.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medicine, University of Athens Medical School, Hippokration General Hospital, 114 Vas. Sophias St, 11523 Athens, Greece. spiros@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Spyros P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Dourakis
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alexopoulou
authors.forename: Nikolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stamoulis
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foutris
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pandelidaki
authors.forename: Athanasios J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Archimandritis
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral