title: EBV limbic encephalitis after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: The clinical and radiological presentations of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encephalitis are pleomorphic, but a common and characteristic finding is an increased T2-weighted signal in the bilateral thalami and basal ganglia. We report here a case of post-transplant acute limbic encephalitis (PALE) syndrome that was possibly related to EBV infection. Six weeks after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, the patient developed confusion and anterograde amnesia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed and revealed bi-hippocampal and amygdala signal abnormalities. The technetium-99m single-photon emission computed tomography ((99m)Tc SPECT) imaging confirmed bilateral limbic structural involvement. The clinical, biological and radiological presentations were consistent with a diagnosis of EBV-induced PALE syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first described case of PALE syndrome possibly related to EBV infection.
authors: UMR-7191 (LINC), service de radiologie 2, hôpital Hautepierre, université de Strasbourg, CHU de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. stephane.kremer@chru-strasbourg.fr
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Kremer
authors: Jean-François
authors: JF
authors: Matern
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Bilger
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Lioure
authors: Yves
authors: Y
authors: Fornecker
authors: Françoise
authors: F
authors: Stoll-Keller
authors: Izzie-Jacques
authors: IJ
authors: Namer
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Dietemann
authors: Samira
authors: S
authors: Fafi-Kremer
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000628:therapy; D001284:Atrophy; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D020363:Limbic Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon