J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2014 Sep;22(3):178-181.

A Rare Case of Rapidly Progressive Severe Encephalitis Associated with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea. kidbrain@korea.com

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus rarely causes encephalitis which has a benign outcome. About 90% of children have a benign clinical course without neurologic sequelae. However, 10% have residual persistent deficits and a mortality rate of up to 10% has also been reported. An 11-month-old boy was admitted after general weakness and poor oral intake. On day 7 of hospitalization, three vomiting episodes occurred and followed by a seizure. Brain T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a hyperintensity with mild diffusion restriction in the cortex and subcortical white matter of the bilateral frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes. Analysis of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample revealed WBC count of 10 /microL (neutrophils 21%, lymphocytes 78%), red blood cell count of 19,000 /uL. CSF EBV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive. Positive results were also obtained for serum EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM (>4 U/mL), IgG (>8 U/mL), EBV Ebstein Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) IgG (>8 U/mL). Despite therapy with acyclovir, phenobarbital and steroids, a brain MRI conducted on day 34 showed extensive parenchymal volume atrophy and secondary ventricular dilatation, diffuse progressive signal change in the entire cerebrum and diffuse gyral enhancement in the entire cerebrum. The patient was discharged on day 129 and was transferred to other hospital. After 3month of discharge, the patient's mental status was still drowsy, both arms and legs showed rigidity, and deep tendon reflex were hyperactive. We report an 11-month-old child with rapidly progressive severe encephalitis associated with Epstein-Barr virus.

Keyword

Epstein-Barr virus; Encephalitis

MeSH Terms

Acyclovir
Arm
Atrophy
Brain
Capsid
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cerebrum
Child
Diffusion
Dilatation
Encephalitis*
Erythrocyte Count
Herpesvirus 4, Human*
Hospitalization
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Infant
Leg
Lymphocytes
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Mortality
Occipital Lobe
Phenobarbital
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rabeprazole
Reflex, Stretch
Seizures
Steroids
Vomiting
Acyclovir
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Phenobarbital
Steroids
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