NYMC Faculty Publications
Relapsing EBV Encephalitis in a Renal Transplant Recipient
Journal Title
IDCases
First Page
83
Last Page
87
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2017
Department
Medicine
Abstract
In solid organ transplant recipients, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause active central nervous system (CNS) infection or malignant transformation of latently infected cells in the CNS, known as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Reduction of T-cell immunosuppression is the cornerstone of management. The role of antivirals with in-vitro activity against herpesviruses in EBV-related CNS syndromes is controversial, as they have no effect on latent virus. We report an unusual case of relapsing EBV encephalitis in a donor-positive, EBV-negative renal transplant recipient, with response to valganciclovir. Our report supports the utility of antiviral treatment for EBV encephalitis, as adjunct to reducing immunosuppression, and highlights the need for a systematic approach and long-term, multi-disciplinary follow-up of such patients.
Recommended Citation
Stone, J., Knoll, B., & Farmakiotis, D. (2017). Relapsing EBV Encephalitis in a Renal Transplant Recipient. IDCases, 10, 83-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2017.09.009
