Neurológia pre prax 2/2015

Encephalitis of unclear origin with suspected Epstein-Barr virus aetiology

The present case report describes a 50-year-old female patient two years after kidney transplantation on permanent immunosuppressive therapy who suddenly developed reversible dementia syndrome. Given the 14-3-3 protein positivity and a history of organ transplant from an unknown donor, a diagnosis of prion infection was taken into consideration, among other things. The subsequent reversal of the clinical course with a relatively sudden abatement of symptoms supported the diagnosis of atypically proceeding neuroinfection without demonstration of the aetiological agent. During follow-up, the patient experienced recurrence of symptoms a month later, with imaging and laboratory testing performed showing encephalitis of unclear origin, most likely Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis.

Keywords: encephalitis, Epstein-Barr virus, 14-3-3 protein.