title: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and thrombocytopenia following Epstein-Barr virus infection.
abstract: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) causes a broad spectrum of disease in humans with several clinical syndromes and is ubiquitous, infecting more than 95% of the world's population. Central Nervous System (CNS) disease alone associated with Epstein-Barr virus rarely occurs in previously healthy individuals. Systemic viral illness in children and complications are rare, but may occur. In few cases, it is associated with a variety of CNS and hematological complications like acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, neuropsychiatric syndrome, GBS, autoimmune thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia and they usually respond to immunotherapy. We report previously healthy boy, who presented with left sided weakness, headache and thrombocytopenia following EBV infection. The thrombocytopenia was resistant to intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone but responded well to Rituximab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and RC, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and RC, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dabbagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and RC, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Muhaizae
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and RC, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hesham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dhalaan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and RC, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Aziza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chedrawi
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002648:Child; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab; D008775:Methylprednisolone