ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the actual knowledge on the spectrum of neurological diseases attributed to Epstein—Barr virus (EBV) activity and discusses the reliability of the different attributions on the basis of clinical and laboratory data. The EBV belongs to the genus Lymphocryptovirus, subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, family Herpesviridae. Similar to other gammaherpesviruses, EBV establishes a lifelong infection in B cells. The epithelial cells of Waldeyer’s ring are also infected by EBV and shed virus during primary infection. Associated malignancies are usually the result of virus reactivation, with EBV DNA detected in tumor tissue of virtually all Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas. Polymerase chain reaction of the cerebrospinal fluid to detect EBV DNA is useful for the diagnosis of AIDS-related CNS lymphoma. Acute EBV infection can vary widely with regard to the clinical severity and presentation, ranging from an asymptomatic infection to a serious and life-threatening version of IM with associated liver damage and splenomegaly.
