Epstein Barr Virus

1. EBV is ubiquitous, typically presenting as infectious mononucleosis (fatigue, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, atypical lymphocytes)
2. Complications: rash (after ampicillin rx), oral hairy leukoplakia, splenic rupture, neuro sx, malignancy (Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma)
3. In immunosuppressed patients, should consider post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
   1. Spectrum of B cell proliferation secondary to EBV
   2. Ranges from benign polyclonal expansion to monoclonal malignancy
   3. To treat, should reduce immunosuppression, and potentially start rituximab
   4. There is some thought that in EBV viremia, antiviral therapy may help reduce risk of malignancy

(Christopher Woo MD, 1/11/11)