Epstein-Barr virus genome-positive T lymphocytes in a boy with chronic active EBV infection associated with Kawasaki-like disease

Nature. 1988 Jun 2;333(6172):455-7. doi: 10.1038/333455a0.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous human herpesvirus and an aetiological agent of infectious mononucleosis, has a unique tropism for B lymphocytes. Clinical and laboratory features of chronic active EBV infections are chronic or persistent infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms and high antibody titre against early antigens (EA). Kawasaki disease (KD), aetiology unknown, is thought to be self-limited immunologically mediated vasculitis. Clinical features of KD are fever, rash, mucositis, lymphadenopathy and coronary artery damage. We report here a child with chronic active EBV infection accompanied by dilatation of coronary arteries. All the EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA)-positive lymphocytes had exclusively CD4 antigen, as revealed by dual staining immunofluorescence analysis. Southern blot hybridization showed that the purified CD4+ cells harboured EBV genome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Viral / analysis
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Dilatation, Pathologic
  • Herpesviridae Infections / complications
  • Herpesviridae Infections / microbiology*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / etiology*
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / microbiology
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / microbiology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / microbiology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral