title: Central nervous system involvement of epstein barr virus associated lymphoproliferative disorder in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: successful treatment with rituximab and interferon-alpha.
abstract: Central nervous system (CNS) involvement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disease is a rare and serious complication in children with leukemia. Although rituximab therapy seems to be promising in these cases, persistent hypogammaglobulinemia may appear after treatment due to complete depletion of normal B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Here we report isolated CNS involvement of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder in a 4-year-old boy with acute leukemia. The patient was treated with rituximab and interferon alpha; however, persistent hypogammaglobulinemia developed as a complication. Given the rarity of the complication in children receiving these agents, our experience with such a case may be helpful to others.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None declared.
authors.affiliation: Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics Clinic, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Atabay
authors.affiliation: Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics Clinic, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Türker
authors.affiliation: Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics Clinic, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.affiliation: Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics Clinic, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sümer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sütçüoğlu
authors.affiliation: Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics Clinic, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Haldun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oniz
authors.affiliation: Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics Clinic, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra Arun
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ozer
keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; Leukemia; Lymphoproliferative disorder; Rituximab; children