Effect of Interferon-α Therapy in a Patient with Common Variable Immunodeficiency and Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
Roberto Toraldoa b, Michele D’Avanzob, Carlo Toloneb, Gianfranco Caninob, Ferdinando Lafuscob, Luigi Daniele Notarangeloc, Alberto Giovanni Ugazioc, Carmela Cirillod
- aDipartimento di Pediatrica, II Università di Napoli, Italy
- bDipartimento di Pediatrica, II Clinica Pediatrica, II Università di Napoli, Italy
- cDipartimento di Pediatrica, Università di Brescia, Italy
- dLaboratorio di Virologia, II Clinica di Malattie Infettive, Istituto G. Gaslini, Università di Genova, Italy
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Abstract
We report an 18-year-old boy with common variable immunodeficiency who presented with splenomegaly as well as left axillary and lateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Main laboratory investigations showed severe thrombocytopenia. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA was detected in the patient's throat-washing specimens and lymph node biopsy. Lymphocytes from the lymph node biopsy were also positive for EBV nuclear antigen. Serology for EBV and cytomegalovirus was negative. A therapeutic attempt with acyclovir did not influence the course of infection. Six months' treatment with human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha (IFN alfa) brought about the normalization of clinical and hematologic conditions. Detection on throat-washing specimens carried out 1 year after therapy was negative. Our preliminary experience suggests that human lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha is a valid alternative in therapy of immunodeficient EB virus-infected patients.