Virchows Archiv A

, Volume 416, Issue 3, pp 271–276 | Cite as

Measles associated with coronary arteritis

  • Yasuo Takano
  • Hideharu Manabe
  • Yuzo Aoyama
  • Noboru Nakamichi
  • Toshiharu Matsumura
  • Takeshi Kurata
Case Report
Received:
Accepted:

Summary

A two-year-old girl with measles virus (MV) and chronic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection developed lethal coronary aneurysmal arteritis accompanied by giant cell pneumonia, systemic lymphadenitis and hepatosplenomegaly. In her coronary arteries, lungs and aorta, cells containing intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions, including syncytial giant cells, were detected, the presence of MV in the organs being proved by electron microscopic and immunofluorescent studies. Immunopathology further demonstrated MV to be disseminated in almost all organs other than lymph nodes. Clinical diagnosis of chronic EBV infection was established on the basis of persistent high titers of antibodies against capsid and early antigens of EBV and viral presence was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization in a mesenterial lymph node obtained at autopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of MV association with coronary aneurysmal arteritis, raising the possibility that measles infection can cause severe vasculitis under immuno-suppressive states, such as that caused by chronic EBV infection.

Key words

Measles Coronary arteritis Epstein Barr virus 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1990

Authors and Affiliations

  • Yasuo Takano
    • 1
  • Hideharu Manabe
    • 2
  • Yuzo Aoyama
    • 1
  • Noboru Nakamichi
    • 3
  • Toshiharu Matsumura
    • 3
  • Takeshi Kurata
    • 4
  1. 1.Department of PathologyOdawara Municipal HospitalKanagawaJapan
  2. 2.Department of PediatricsOdawara Municipal HospitalKanagawaJapan
  3. 3.Division of Gerontology and NutritionMeiji Institute of Health ScienceKanagawaJapan
  4. 4.Department of PathologyJapanese National Institute of HealthTokyoJapan

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