A Case of Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Infection with Autoimmnune Hepatitis and a Coronary Aneurysm

ABSTRACT

Infectious mononucleosis caused by primary infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a self-limiting lymphoproliferative disease, and shows concomitant clinical features such as pyrexia, anorexia, sore throat, cervical lymphadenopathy, liver dysfunction and hepatosplenomegaly. In rare cases, EBV establishes a latent infection in B lymphocytes and runs a chronic course and shows infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms repeatedly. This syndrome, named chronic active EBV infection, may trigger an autoimmune disease that mainly affectes the liver and red blood cells, and carries a very poor prognosis. The cardiovascular complications of chronic active EBV infection are very rare and may be associated with coronary arterial disease. This case describes a 5-year-old boy, who developed chronic active EBV infection and was diagnosed as having autoimmune hepatitis with a coronary aneurysm.