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Interferon-alpha-2a as a salvage treatment for hemorrhagic enteritis associated with Epstein-Barr Virus reactivation : a case report

Journal Volume 84 - 2021
Issue Fasc.1 - Case reports
Author(s) D. Lankenau-Vela 1 2, F. De la Garza-Salazar 1 2, P. Colunga-Pedraza 3, D. Jaime-Villalón 4
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PAGES 129-130
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DOI10.51821/84.1.658
Affiliations:
(1) Universidad de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina, Especialidades Medicas, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
(2) Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Christus Muguerza Alta Especialidad, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
(3) Hematology Service, Hospital Universitario Dr. José Eleuterio González, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
(4) Infectology Service, Hospital Christus Muguerza Alta Especialidad, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] is a virus that infects almost all humans worldwide. After the acute phase of the infection, it stays in a latent form in B lymphocytes. EBV reactivation tends to occur in immunosuppressed patients. EBV reactivation may involve the gastrointestinal tract ; it has been associated mainly with colitis, but hemorrhagic enteritis has been poorly reported. Treatment usually includes antivirals. However, our patient did not respond to conventional treatment, so interferon alpha-2a was given as a salvage treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of hemorrhagic enteritis associated to EBV reactivation treated successfully with interferon alpha-2a.

Keywords: Epstein-barr virus reactivation, interferon, hemorrhagic enteritis, case report.

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
© Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica.
PMID 33639704