• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.200-206
• /
• 1996

Virus associated hemophagocytic syndrome(VAHS), a class II histiocytosis syndrome, is characterized by high fever, liver dysfunction, coagulation abnormalities, and generalized histiocytic proliferation with marked hemophagocytosis in bone marrow and lymph nodes. VAHS is associated with several viral infections including Epstein Barr virus which has a relatively high mortality rate. We report a fatal case of Epstein Barr virus associated hemophagocytic syndrome and its diagnosis by mRNA in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. A brief review of related literaure is also presented.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.95-99
• /
• 2002

Hemophagocytic syndrome(HPS) has four subgroup, sporadic disorder, associated with acute infection, familial form seen in children, and associated with malignant disorders, immunodeficiencies, defective leukocyte function. Histologically, Hemopoietic cells are actively ingested by moncytes/macrophages in various organs, including lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver, and spleen. Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) is now thought to be one of the major causes for the virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome(VAHS). Epstein-Barr(EB) virus infection is common, with up to 90% of individuals demonstrating positive titiers by age 20. Although elevated liver function tests commonly occur, severe hepatitis is rare. Only seven cases of ascites complicating Epstein-Barr infection are reported, but none clearly demonstrate the abscence of other causes of hepatic dysfunction. We are reporting a case of Epstein-Barr Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome with ascites.