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; case report; hemorrhagic enteritis; interferon.
© Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica.