Case Report: Severe cholestatic jaundice induced by Epstein-Barr virus infection in the elderly |
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| Authors: | YEOUDA EDOUTE YAACOV BARUCH JESSE LACHTER EIAL FURMAN LUDISSIA BASSAN NIMER ASSY |
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| Institution: | Departments of Internal Medicine C, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel;?Liver Unit, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel;§Pathology, Rambam Medical Centre Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel;?The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel |
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| Abstract: | Infectious mononucleosis due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is almost always a self-limited disease, most commonly seen in young adults. Hepatitis is a well-recognized complication of EBV infection that usually resolves spontaneously. Jaundice occasionally results from the unusual complication of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia rather than hepatitis. We report a 60-year-old man with severe cholestatic jaundice whose history, liver histology and laboratory findings suggested EBV infection. He also developed significant jaundice related to his hepatitis, but not to autoimmune haemolysis, a situation that led to diagnostic delay. Costly diagnostic laboratory tests and invasive procedures were performed to rule out a malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Physicians need to be aware of this complication and EBV infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of cholestatic jaundice in the elderly. |
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| Keywords: | cholestatic jaundice Epstein-Barr virus infectious mononucleosis |
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