Acute Hepatitis Due to Epstein–Barr Virus in an Immunocompetent Patient

Excerpt

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infects over 90% of humans and persists throughout life. Typically, EBV infection in infants and children is asymptomatic or is manifest by nonspecific symptoms [1]. In adolescents and adults, EBV infection can result in infectious mononucleosis, which presents with the triad of fever, lymphadenopathy, and pharyngitis in over 50% of cases. Though often unrecognized, EBV infection can cause mild elevation in serum aminotransferase levels in 90% of patients, with clinically significant EBV-induced liver damage occurring only rarely in immunocompetent individuals [2, 3]. We present a 21-year-old female diagnosed with acute clinically significant EBV-induced hepatitis that was confirmed by pathology and serologic studies. We also review the literature on the clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, histopathological characteristics, and management of EBV hepatitis. …