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Cytomegalovirus reactivation after low-dose steroid treatment for hemolytic anemia in a patient with primary Epstein-Barr virus infection

Reaktivierung von latentem Cytomegalovirus nach niedrigdosierter Kortikosteroidtherapie einer hämolytischen Anämie bei einem Patienten mit primärer Epstein-Barr-Virus-Infektion

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Zusammenfassung

Bei Cytomegalie-seropositiven Patienten kann eine intensive therapeutische Suprimierung der Immunabwehr zur Reaktivierung einer latenten Cytomegalovirus-Infektion führen. Viele dieser immunsuppressiven Therapie-Protokolle enthalten auch hochdosierte Kortikosteroide. Nicht bekannt ist hingegen, ob eine Behandlung mit niedrigen Dosen von Kortikosteroiden bei sonst gesunden Personen eindeutig mit einer Reaktivierung von Cytomegalovirus verbunden ist. Wir beschreiben die Reaktivierung einer Cytomegalovirus-Infektion mit bei einem 21-jährigen immunkompetenten Mann, der einen Monat lang mit niedrigen Dosen von Kortikosteroiden behandelt wurde. Die Indikation zur Steroidtherapie war eine ausgeprägte hämolytische Anämie, ausgelöst durch eine primäre Mononukleose (Epstein-Barr).

Summary

Cytomegalovirus reactivation is a well described event occurring after intensive therapeutic suppression of the immune function in patients with latent infection. Treatment protocols for suppression of the immune response often include high-dose steroids. However, it is not known whether even a low-dose steroid treatment can reactivate latent cytomegalovirus in otherwise healthy persons. We documented cytomegalovirus reactivation after low-dose steroid treatment for autoimmune hemolytic anemia as a complication of Epstein-Barr virus mononucleosis in an immunocompetent 21-year-old man.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Center Rijeka, Croatia

    Biserka Troselj-Vukic & Franko Milotic

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, General Hospital Celje, Slovenia

    Irena Milotic

  3. Department of Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Center Rijeka, Croatia

    Marija Crnic-Martinovic

  4. Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Croatia

    Blazenka Grahovac

Authors
  1. Biserka Troselj-Vukic
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  2. Irena Milotic
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  3. Franko Milotic
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  4. Marija Crnic-Martinovic
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  5. Blazenka Grahovac
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irena Milotic.

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Troselj-Vukic, B., Milotic, I., Milotic, F. et al. Cytomegalovirus reactivation after low-dose steroid treatment for hemolytic anemia in a patient with primary Epstein-Barr virus infection. Wien Klin Wochenschr 119, 435–437 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-007-0821-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-007-0821-4

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