Epstein-Barr virus meningoencephalitis with a lymphoma-like response in an immunocompetent host

Abstract

We report the clinical and neuropathological findings in an immunocompetent 19-year-old patient with a fatal acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) meningoencephalitis and a lymphoma-like B-lymphocyte response. Our results suggest that an immunotoxic rather than direct viral neuronal invasion mediates brain damage in EBV encephalitis and rule out primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in our patient. We discuss immunosuppression as a therapeutic option, because present strategies mainly consist of symptomatic therapy due to unclear pathogenesis and nonavailability of effective antiviral agents.