Unusual infectious mononucleosis complicated by vasculitis

Abstract

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a clinical syndrome caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It manifests as fever, pharyngitis, malaise, adenopathy, and atypical lymphocytosis. Cardiovascular complications are thought to be rare in IM. There are very few case reports of EBV-associated vasculitides, like Kawasaki disease and systemic polyarteritis nodosa, however, involvement of the large caliber arteries like the aorta and its branches have been reported only scarcely. Myocarditis also is rare as an early manifestation of EBV infection. We present here a rare case of IM, presented initially with acute myocarditis and later with large-vessels arteritis.

Keywords

• Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection
• infectious mononucleosis
• medium and large-vessels arteritis