Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

Epstein-Barr virus-associated subacute sensorimotor neuropathy with multiple cerebellar microbleeding: a case report

Mayumi Furuya, M.D.1), Satoru Oji, M.D., Ph.D.1), Kohei Sugimoto, M.D.1), Masahiro Kizaki, M.D., Ph.D.2), Takahisa Yamashita, M.D., Ph.D.3) and Kenichi Kaida, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1) Department of Neurology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University
2) Department of Hematology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University
3) Department of Pathology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University

We report the case of an 82-year-old male with subacute sensorimotor neuropathy associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, who presented with diplopia followed by gait disturbance due to limb weakness. Pathological findings of a biopsied cervical lymph node showed a high frequency of EBV-positive cells. EBV-DNA was detected in blood. A nerve conduction study suggested a mixture of axonal damage and demyelination. Brain MRI showed multiple microbleeds in cerebellar cortices, but cerebrospinal fluid EBV-PCR was negative, suggesting bleeding due to EBVrelated vasculitis. Corticosteroid therapy improved the neurological symptoms and the patient was able to walk independently four months later. The main pathogenesis of the neuropathy in this case is likely to be a mixture of vasculitic neuropathy and immune-mediated demyelinating neuropathy, which are considered to be due to EBV reactivation.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (3445K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 62: 609|614, 2022)
key words: Epstein-Barr virus, reactivation, neuropathy, cerebral hemorrhage

(Received: 22-Nov-21)