Epstein–Barr-Virus Induced Lymphoproliferation

Abstract

EPSTEIN–BARR virus (EBV), a transforming herpesvirus that infects and replicates in B lymphocytes, is being increasingly recognized as a cause of lymphoproliferative disorders in immunodeficient hosts. Males with the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome,1 , 2 recipients of renal,3 bone-marrow,4 or cardiac transplants,5 and patients with severe combined immunodeficiency,6 ataxia telangiectasia,7 or the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome8 have had fatal EBV-induced lymphoproliferative disorders. Infrequently, normal persons may die of EBV-induced lymphoproliferative disorders9 including those of the central nervous system.10 Treatment of these disorders has not been particularly successful, and antiviral agents are being investigated.One such agent, acyclovir (9-[2-hydroxyethoxy-methyl] guanine) was recently found to be . . .