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Peuchmaur M, Voisin J, Vaillant M, Truffot A, Lupo J, Morand P, Le Maréchal M, Germi R. Epstein-Barr Virus Encephalitis: A Review of Case Reports from the Last 25 Years. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2825. [PMID: 38137968 PMCID: PMC10745555 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Although uncommon, Epstein-Barr virus-related neurological disorders represent the seventh most frequent cause of infectious encephalitis in adults. The limited number of publications on EBV encephalitis mainly document isolated clinical cases. This study aimed to summarize published data on EBV encephalitis. A systematic literature search identified 97 EBV encephalitis cases. In the selected cases, EBV-related neurological disorders manifested as lymphocytic pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with moderate hyperproteinorachia. The EBV PCR test was positive in 87% of the CSF samples, with wide-ranging viral loads. When encephalitis occurred in the context of past EBV infections, all of the EBV PCR tests on CSF samples were positive. On the contrary, negative EBV PCR tests on CSF samples occurred only in the context of primary infections. EBV PCR was rarely carried out on blood samples, contributing minimally to the diagnosis. For the treatment of EBV encephalitis, Aciclovir was used alone in 29% of cases, and in association with other drugs in 40% of cases. Ganciclovir (30%), corticoids (52%), and immunoglobulins (15%) were mainly used in association with other drugs. Cerebral imaging was abnormal in 69% of cases, mostly in the cerebellum and basal ganglia. This work highlights that the EBV PCR test on CSF samples is currently the main laboratory diagnostic test to diagnose EBV encephalitis. This diagnostic test is useful; however, it is imperfect. New complementary diagnostic tools, approved treatments, and standardized practices could improve patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joris Voisin
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG IBS, 38000 Grenoble, France; (J.V.); (A.T.); (J.L.); (P.M.)
| | - Mathieu Vaillant
- University Grenoble Alpes, Service de Neurologie, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France;
| | - Aurélie Truffot
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG IBS, 38000 Grenoble, France; (J.V.); (A.T.); (J.L.); (P.M.)
| | - Julien Lupo
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG IBS, 38000 Grenoble, France; (J.V.); (A.T.); (J.L.); (P.M.)
| | - Patrice Morand
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG IBS, 38000 Grenoble, France; (J.V.); (A.T.); (J.L.); (P.M.)
| | - Marion Le Maréchal
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CHU Grenoble Alpes, GIN, 38000 Grenoble, France;
| | - Raphaele Germi
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG IBS, 38000 Grenoble, France; (J.V.); (A.T.); (J.L.); (P.M.)
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