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Published on: May 7, 2012
EBV limbic encephalitis after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Stéphane Kremer1, Jean-François Matern, Karin Bilger
1UMR-7191 (LINC), service de radiologie 2, hôpital Hautepierre, université de Strasbourg, CHU de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. stephane.kremer@chru-strasbourg.fr
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause limbic encephalitis after stem-cell transplants. This case highlights EBV-induced post-transplant acute limbic encephalitis (PALE) syndrome with characteristic brain imaging findings.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Oncology
Background:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encephalitis presents variably, often with thalamic and basal ganglia T2-weighted MRI signal increases.
- Post-transplant acute limbic encephalitis (PALE) is a rare neurological complication following transplantation.
Observation:
- A patient developed confusion and amnesia six weeks post-hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.
- Brain MRI revealed bilateral hippocampal and amygdala signal abnormalities.
- Technetium-99m SPECT imaging confirmed bilateral limbic structural involvement.
Findings:
- The clinical, biological, and radiological findings were consistent with EBV-induced PALE syndrome.
- This case represents the first reported instance of PALE syndrome potentially linked to EBV infection.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of EBV's neurological complications post-transplantation.
- Early recognition of EBV-PALE syndrome is crucial for timely diagnosis and management in transplant recipients.
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