Clinical variants of Epstein — Barr virus infection

Zh.B. Ponezheva¹, A.A. Grishaeva^1,2, T.I. Popova²

¹Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow

²Infectious Clinical Hospital No. 2, Moscow

The importance of Epstein — Barr virus (EBV) infection is accounted for by its high occurrence, specific tropism to immune cells, difficulties in early and differential diagnosis, specificities of the clinical course, and the lack of specific preventive measures and effective etiological treatment.

Considering the diversity of clinical variants of EBV infection, high risk of complications, and the development of immunodeficiency of various severity (these factors are responsible for the outcomes), early diagnosis and adequate management strategy are of great importance. Detailed and careful study of EBV immunopathogenesis is required to determine prognostic criteria, to reveal immunological abnormalities and immunogenetic factors of the predisposition to EBV-associated complications, and to optimize the treatment.

Treatment for any EBV variant should be complex and consider cli nical manifestations, disease severity and stage. However, it could be difficult to implement these principles in practice. Early diagnosis, correct and individual (and then personalized) etiological and pathogenic treatment approaches are the key to successfully treating EBV infection. This paper addresses current views on immunopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment for EBV infection depending on its stage and clinical variants. Clinical examples of acute and chronic EBV infections are discussed.

Keywords: Epstein — Barr virus, chronic Epstein — Barr virus infection, clinical variants, differential diagnosis, etiological treatment, pathogenic treatment, complications, clinical examples.

For citation: Ponezheva Zh.B., Grishaeva A.A., Popova T.I. Clinical variants of Epstein — Barr virus infection. RMJ. 2019;10:36–41.