Clinical and pathogenetic observations on children with chronic mononucleosis
Cataldo, F.; Ammatuna, P.; Bellia, L.; Sammartano, F.; Violante, M.; Albeggiani, A.
La Pediatria Medica e Chirurgica Medical and Surgical Pediatrics 13(5): 489-494
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0391-5387 PMID: 1664943 Document Number: 369814
Epstein-Barr virus is seldom the causative agent of a prolonged atypical illness, known as chronic mononucleosis syndrome, characterized by a persistent pattern of clinical manifestations and by a defective immune response to specific viral antigens. This paper refers about 6 children for whom clinical and serological findings suggest the chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection. The authors believe that this chronic state might be explained by the unusual antibody pattern to EBV virus, with the persistent presence of anti-EA and the absence of anti-EBNA titers, expression of a reduced EBV-specific cytotoxic T cell activity.