Mucocutaneous Manifestations of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

• Published in: American journal of clinical dermatology Vol. 9; no. 5; pp. 295 - 305
• Main Authors: Mendoza, Natalia, Diamantis, Melissa, Arora, Anita, Bartlett, Brenda, Gewirtzman, Aron, Tremaine, Anne-Marie, Tyring, Stephen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.01.2008; Adis International; Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; Causes of; Dermatology; Diagnosis; Epstein-Barr virus; Epstein-Barr virus diseases; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - complications; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - diagnosis; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - physiopathology; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - therapy; Hairy leukoplakia; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Lymphoproliferative disorders; Lymphoproliferative Disorders - virology; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mucous Membrane - virology; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacotherapy; Review Article; Skin Diseases, Infectious - virology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; Hodgkin Lymphoma; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Burkitt Lymphoma; Infectious Mononucleosis; Plasmablastic Lymphoma; Infection; Mucocutaneous; Dermatology; Infectious mononucleosis; Viral disease
• ISSN: 1175-0561; 1179-1888
• DOI: 10.2165/00128071-200809050-00003

This review focuses on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, diagnosis, and current treatment, with emphasis on EBV-associated mucocutaneous manifestations in primary infections, acute EBV-associated syndromes, chronic infections, lymphoproliferative disorders, and lymphomas. In primary infection, EBV infects B cells and can cause mucocutaneous manifestations in infectious mononucleosis or acute EBV-associated syndromes such as Gianotti-Crosti syndrome and hemophagocytic syndrome. EBV then persists in the majority of humans generally without causing disease. In some cases, however, latent EBV infection may result in diseases such as hydroa vacciniforme, hypersensitivity to mosquito bites, and lymphoproliferative disorders such as plasmablas- tic lymphoma, oral hairy leukoplakia, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Latent EBV infection has also been implicated in a variety of malignant conditions such as Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and Kikuchi histocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis. Since the immune system is critical in preventing the progression of EBV disease, the immunologic status of the patient plays a crucial role in the subsequent development of pathologies.