Journal article
Primary Epstein–Barr-Virus Infections in Acute Neurologic Diseases
The New England journal of medicine, Vol.292(8), pp.392-395
02/20/1975
DOI: 10.1056/NEJM197502202920804
PMID: 163004
Abstract
Infectious mononucleosis has been associated with Guillain—Barré Syndrome, Bell's palsy, meningoencephalitis and transverse myelitis. Since it is now known that many children with infectious mononucleosis do not develop heterophil antibodies, we looked for evidence of current or recent Epstein-Barr Virus infection in young patients with these neurologic diseases by using serodiagnostic procedures for detection and titration of antibodies to various antigens related to Epstein-Barr virus. Seven of 24 cases with Guillain-Barré syndrome and three of 16 with facial palsy were definitely associated with primary infection with Epstein-Barr virus as were two cases each of the other two neurologic diseases. Only one of these patients had obvious clinical infectious mononucleosis, and only a few demonstrated heterophil agglutinins. It is evident that the virus must be considered in the diagnosis of various acute neurologic diseases affecting children and young adults, even in the absence of a heterophil-antibody response or other signs of infectious mononucleosis. (N Engl J Med 292:392–395, 1975)
SINCE the identification of the Epstein–Barr virus as the cause of classic heterophil-positive infectious mononucleosis,
1
it has become possible to confirm or establish the diagnosis of this disease by appropriate virus–specific serologic tests.
2
Application of these tests has settled the old argument whether infectious mononucleosis should invariably be accompanied by a heterophil-antibody response. It is now clear that about 10 per cent of young adults and a substantially greater percentage of pediatric patients with the disease do not develop heterophil antibodies.
3
,
4
On the basis of serologic results, the ratio between clinically typical cases and inapparent or mild, and therefore undiagnosed, . . .
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Primary Epstein–Barr-Virus Infections in Acute Neurologic Diseases
- Creators
- Charles GroseWerner HenleGertrude HenlePaul M Feorino
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The New England journal of medicine, Vol.292(8), pp.392-395
- Publisher
- Massachusetts Medical Society
- DOI
- 10.1056/NEJM197502202920804
- PMID
- 163004
- ISSN
- 0028-4793
- eISSN
- 1533-4406
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/20/1975
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Infectious Disease (Pediatrics)
- Record Identifier
- 9984093372602771
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