Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection in an adult

We report a rare adult case of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. A 54-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with intermittent fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia and liver disturbance. In serological tests for EBV, anti-virus capsid antigen (VCA)-IgG antibody and anti-early antigen (EA)-IgG antibody were markedly elevated and anti-EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibody was negative. EBV genome was detected in the bone marrow nucleated cells and peripheral lymphocytes by Southern blot hybridization. The patient developed left facial edema, bilateral breast tumor and pneumonia. She died one year after admission in spite of the administration of prednisolone, interferon and acyclovir.