Neurological Manifestations Associated with Epstein-Barr Viral Infection

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 14(1); 1996 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1996;14(1): 262-269.

엡스타인 바 바이러스 감염과 연관된 신경학적 양상

백종삼, 김정연, 허지회, 이병인, 선우일남

연세대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실. 뇌연구소

Neurological Manifestations Associated with Epstein-Barr Viral Infection

Jong Sam Baik, M.D., Jeong Yeon Kim, M.D., Ji Hoe Heo, M.D., Byung In Lee, M.D., Il Nam Sunwoo, M.D.

Department of Neurology and Brain research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine

Abstract

Background & Significance : The neurological manifestations associated with Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) infection includes meningoencephalitis, Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS), Bell's palsy, myelopathy, and radiculopathy. To the best of our knowledge, the neurological manifestation associated with EBV infection has never been reported in Korea. Cases & Results : We have found five patients (3 men, 2 women, mean age 28.4 years ; range 23-42) with EBV-associated neurological illness between August 1994 and July 1995. Serum enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests for anti- early antigen(EA) IgM and anti-Epstein Barr nucleic acid (EBNA) IgG was positive in all patients, suggestive of reactivated EBV reaction. They showed a wide spectrum of neurological manifestations : 2 meningoecnephalomyelitis, 1 meningoencephalitis and cervical radiculopathy, 1 meningoencephalitis, and 1 GBS. T2-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging studies showed high signal intensity lesions in three of the four patients who had meningoencephalitis. Outcomes were excellent in all but one patient. Conclusions : We present five patients with a wide spectrum of neurological manifestations associated with EBV infection. We suggest that one should suspect the EBV infection in a variety of neurological diseases of uncertain etiology.