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A syndrome of concurrent central and peripheral nervous system involvement due to Epstein‐Barr virus infection
Author(s) -
Morgenlander Joel C.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199608)19:8<1037::aid-mus11>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - medicine , pleocytosis , weakness , pathology , encephalopathy , peripheral nervous system , guillain barre syndrome , csf pleocytosis , chromatolysis , central nervous system , anterior horn cell , epstein–barr virus infection , cerebrospinal fluid , mononucleosis , virus , epstein–barr virus , spinal cord , immunology , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , anatomy , disease , psychiatry
Epstein‐Barr virus infection can affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems. In some patients this occurs concurrently. Two patients are presented with encephalopathy and acute quadriparesis with diminished reflexes. Positive serology for Epstein‐Barr virus was found in both patients. Both patients had a cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis in the setting of progressive weakness. Electrophysiologic studies early in the course of their illness demonstrated abnormal F‐wave latencies with normal distal conduction. Electromyographic studies demonstrated prominent spontaneous activity in affected limbs. As both the encephalopathy and weakness improved, the electrophysiologic abnormalities improved. This presentation is characteristic of acute Epstein‐Barr virus infection. Pathologic studies in other patients have documented both anterior horn cell degeneration and edema as well as cellular infiltration of nerve roots which are responsible for the paralysis with diminished reflexes and electrophysiologic findings. The prognosis for these patients is generally good. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.