The evolving therapeutic approaches for Epstein-Barr virus infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals

Current Drug Targets. Immune, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
Motohiko Okano

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of eight known human herpesviruses (HHVs). A primary EBV infection is generally subclinical in immunocompetent individuals, but often causes infectious mononucleosis (IM) in adolescents and adults, which is generally a benign and self-limiting disease. Therefore, in immunocompetent individuals only symptomatic treatment is recommended, although fatal or malignant diseases such as fatal IM, Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) may develop without obvious preceding immunodeficiency. However, in certain circumstances such as in patients with hereditary immunodeficiencies, in recipients receiving a potent immunosuppressant or in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), this virus strongly links to the development of lethal lymphoproliferative diseases (LPD). These LPD range from IM-like illness associated with polyclonal proliferation to malignant lymphoma in monoclonal fashion. To date, no specific therapy has been available for latent EBV infection itself, but understanding the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms in each condition provides the possible treatment including anti-viral agents, immune modulators and chemotherapeutic drugs. Furthermore, severe combin...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 6, 2007·Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy·Motohiko Okano, Thomas G Gross
Nov 26, 2008·Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology·Eric Toussirot, Jean Roudier
Jul 11, 2008·Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine : Official Journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine·Margot PutukianGregory Landry

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