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Rhabdomyolysis complicating acute Epstein-Barr virus infection

Rhabdomyolyse als Komplikation einer akuten Epstein-Barr-Virus-Infektion

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Summary

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is common and induces a broad spectrum of illness. In the majority of cases the disease manifests with typical signs of heterophile-positive infectious mononucleosis in which myalgia may be seen in up to 20% of cases. In this study, a case of rhabdomyolysis is reported occurring during the clinical course of an 18-year-old patient with infectious mononucleosis. This severe form of muscle involvement has been rarely associated with EBV infections. Five similar cases previously published in the English literature are also reviewed. The clinical implications of rhabdomyolysis and infectious mononucleosis are discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Die Infektion mit dem Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV) ist häufig, sie verursacht ein breites Spektrum von Krankheitsbildern. Die meisten Infektionen verlaufen mit dem typischen Bild einer infektiösen Mononukleose mit heterophilen Antikörpern, in bis zu 20% der Fälle treten Myalgien auf. Wir berichten über einen 18jährigen Mann, bei dem im Verlauf einer infektiösen Mononukleose eine Rhabdomyolyse auftrat. Diese schwere Form der Muskelbeteiligung wird bei EBV-Infektionen selten gesehen. Über fünf ähnliche, in der englischsprachigen Literatur mitgeteilte Fälle wird ebenfalls berichtet. Die klinischen Folgen einer Rhabdomyolyse bei infektiöser Mononukleose werden diskutiert.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Internal Medicine “D” and Infectious Diseases Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 31096, Haifa, Israel

    H. Osamah M. D., J. G. Brook M. D. &  R. Finkelstein M. D.

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  1. H. Osamah M. D.
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  2. J. G. Brook M. D.
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  3. R. Finkelstein M. D.
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Osamah, H., Brook, J.G. & Finkelstein, R. Rhabdomyolysis complicating acute Epstein-Barr virus infection. Infection 23, 119–120 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01833879

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01833879

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