J Korean Med Sci.  1997 Oct;12(5):447-451. 10.3346/jkms.1997.12.5.447.

Epstein Barr virus associated hemophagocytic syndrome--a case report

• Kim IS
• Park CK
• Kim H
• Lee YY
• Ahn MJ
• Lee WS

• KMID: 1081038
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.1997.12.5.447

Abstract

Virus associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) are a heterogeneous group of disorders in which viral infection is associated with a proliferation of hemophagocytic histiocytes through the reticuloendothelial system. We report the case of a 21-year-old Korean man who presented to us with high fever, marked hepatosplenomegaly, severe hepatic dysfunction, coagulopathy, pancytopenia and marked panhypogammaglobulinemia. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy showed histiocytes proliferation with active phagocytosis of red cells and neutrophils. Primary Epstein-Barr (EB) viral infection at presentation was confirmed by the presence of IgM antibody to viral capsid antigen (VCA) with absence of antibody to EB viral nuclear antigen (EBNA). A liver biopsy performed one month after the presentation showed erythrophagocytic histiocytes within the sinusoids. EB virus was demonstrated in the liver biopsy tissue by DNA PCR method, and EBER mRNA in situ hybridization.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Antigens, Viral/analysis
Case Report
DNA, Viral
Fatal Outcome
Herpesviridae Infections/pathology
Herpesviridae Infections/complications*
Herpesvirus 4, Human*/isolation & purification
Herpesvirus 4, Human*/immunology
Herpesvirus 4, Human*/genetics
Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell/virology*
Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell/pathology
Human
Male
Tumor Virus Infections/pathology
Tumor Virus Infections/complications*