Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Case Report: Transverse Myelitis Associated With Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

1994; Elsevier BV; Volume: 307; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/00000441-199401000-00009

1538-2990

Carlos Caldas, Eric Bernicker, Anthony Dal Nogare, James P. Luby,

Polyomavirus and related diseases

Transverse myelitis is a rare complication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. This article describes a case of a previously healthy patient with a subacute transverse myelopathy. The cerebrospinal fluid showed lymphocytic pleocytosis and protein elevation. A magnetic resonance imaging scan demonstrated abnormal spinal cord signal intensity over several cervical and thoracic segments, suggesting the diagnosis of transverse myelitis. The patient was treated with high-dose corticosteroids and had a rapid improvement. Serologic studies for other viruses were negative; antibody tests indicated acute EBV infection. It is thought this represents a case of transverse myelitis associated with acute EBV infection. Although a few similar patients have been reported previously, this case is the first where EBV serology suggested the etiology at the time of diagnosis, when EBV antibody titers and polymerase-chain reaction for EBV DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid were performed, and when a magnetic resonance imaging scan was used for diagnosis and follow-up.