Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus
Infections
Alex Tselis
Abstract Epstein–Barr virus and cytomegalovirus are members of the human
herpesviruses that have an extremely high seroprevalence in all populations studied.
The initial infection is usually asymptomatic, or causes a febrile illness, but can
rarely manifest itself neurologically. These viruses are increasingly important in the
modern era of immunosuppression, whether due to AIDS or in the transplant or
cancer chemotherapy population, and their reactivation gives rise to a wide spectrum
of neurological diseases. The pathogenesis of these infections is not
completely understood, but certainly multifaceted. In CMV lytic infection damages
systemic tissues directly, whereas EBV involves an activated and distorted immune
system. These diseases are treatable, but need to be recognized early in their course
so that antiviral intervention can be effected promptly. The choice of therapeutic
strategy can be counterintuitive: while CMV infections are conventionally managed
with antiviral medications, EBV infections may demand a neoplastic treatment
paradigm as an addition to (or alternative to) antiviral treatment.
Keywords Cytomegalovirus • Diagnostic virology • Encephalitis • Epstein-Barr
virus • Immunosuppression • Lymphoproliferative disorder • Myelitis •
Opportunistic infections • Primary CNS lymphoma
1 Introduction
Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are two herpesviruses occasionally
associated with neurologic disease. They share with other herpesviruses the
property of initial infection of young hosts, establishment of latency, and “reactivation”
later in life, with variable consequences.While most initial infections with these viruses
A. Tselis (*)
Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
e-mail: atselis@med.wayne.edu
A.C. Jackson (ed.), Viral Infections of the Human Nervous System,
Birkha¨user Advances in Infectious Diseases,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-0348-0425-7_2, # Springer Basel 2013
23
are clinically self-limited, some have prominent neurological manifestations. In the
modern era of immunocompromised patients who have had a transplant, cancer
chemotherapy, autoimmune disease, or AIDS, reactivation of these viruses can have
devastating consequences. These reactivations can have quite novel manifestations and
reflect unusual pathogenetic mechanisms.
2 Epstein–Barr Virus
2.1 A Brief History
The history of the discovery of EBV is one of the great medical detective stories of
the twentieth century. A febrile pharyngitis with cervical lymphadenopathy was
described late in the nineteenth century. While a number of illnesses can have this
presentation, a subset with very high peripheral mononuclear cell counts was
defined in 1920 by Sprunt and Evans (1920) and called “infectious mononucleosis
(IM).” The observation by Haganutziu and Deicher that serum sickness was
associated with a sheep red cell agglutinin was confirmed by Paul and Bunnell
(1932). They attempted to define the specificity of this observation by examining
control sera. One of these showed a very high titer of such agglutinins, and was
found to be from an IM patient. This led to the discovery of the so-called “heterophile
antibodies (HA),” which evolved into a diagnostic test for IM. Attempts to
transmit the disease to other humans or animals were inconsistently successful and
further advances had to wait several decades.
In 1946, a British colonial surgeon, Denis Burkitt, was assigned to a post in
Uganda, where he took care of a population of 250,000 people. In 1957, he was
asked to see a child with a peculiar mass in the jaw, which rendered him “totally
baffled.” He saw other such cases and reviewed the hospital records for other cases.
These showed that the tumor, a lymphoma, often affected the internal organs and the
nervous system, rather than lymph nodes. He sent questionnaires to clinics around
the continent using mails, and was able to establish the geographic distribution of
this tumor, and noted that it overlapped the distribution of malaria and yellow fever,
as well as an epidemic of o’nyong nyong fever. The fact that the geographical
distribution of Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) overlapped that of several mosquito-borne
diseases suggested the possibility that the disease was transmittable. Burkitt gave
several talks about his findings on a visit to London, and Anthony Epstein, a
virologist interested in tumor viruses, was present. He had Burkitt send him samples
of the tumors and was able to detect a herpes-like virus by electron microscopy.
However, the virus could not be cultured. For more accurate characterization of the
virus, samples were sent to the laboratory of Werner and Gertrude Henle. They were
able to show that antibodies to the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) were present not only
in pediatric oncology patients, but also were common in the general population. The
first connection between EBV and a specific disease was made when a technician in
24 A. Tselis
the Henles’ laboratory, who was seronegative, developed IM. Her serum, previously
used as a negative control, became strongly seropositive (Henle et al. 1968). This
observation provided the impetus for the studies of college students by Niederman
et al. (1968) in which the etiologic role of EBV in IM was established. The role of
EBV was then established in a number of tumors. This includes BL, a number of B
and T cell lymphomas, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and leiomyosarcoma. Further, systemic
“opportunistic lymphomas” in the context of transplantation, AIDS, and
chemotherapy are often caused by EBV. These include posttransplant lymphoproliferative
disorder (PTLD) and the experiment-of-nature X-linked lymphoproliferative
disorder (XLPD), in which there is an uncontrolled proliferation of
EBV-infected B cells because of a novel immune defect.
2.2 Basic Virology
The virus consists of a nucleocapsid containing a 184 kbp double stranded (ds)
DNA molecule surrounded by 162 capsomers. The nucleocapsid is surrounded by a
protein-rich tegument, which in turn is surrounded by an envelope.
The genome of the virus is structured similar to other herpesviruses, in which
there are unique long and short regions, separated by a long run of internal repeats,
and flanked by terminal repeats. There are about 190 genes per genome.
There are overall two types of genes in the EBV genome. When the virus infects
its target cells, it replicates in two different ways, latent and lytic replication. In
latent replication in EBV-infected B cells, the EBV genome replicates along with
the cellular DNA, using the cell’s own DNA polymerase. Thus, cellular and viral
DNA are replicated by cellular DNA polymerase in latent replication. In the latent
state, there is minimal expression of viral genes. In lytic replication, which occurs
in epithelial cells and plasma cells, the viral DNA is replicated by viral DNA
polymerase, and assembled into full virions that are released by lysis of the infected
cell. It is important to note that antiviral drugs such as acyclovir and ganciclovir will
inhibit the viral but not the cellular DNA polymerase. Thus, these drugs decrease
lytic but not latent replication. The spectrum of disease depends on the type of
replication as will be seen later.
2.3 Spectrum of Systemic Disease Associated with EBV
Primary EBV infection is often asymptomatic, especially in children. In young
adults, the infection causes a febrile pharyngitis with prominent cervical lymphadenopathy
and significant fatigue and malaise. This illness is called EBVassociated
infectious mononucleosis (EBV IM). Usually, recovery is complete
within a few weeks, although cases lasting several months have been reported.
Interestingly, many patients develop a rash when treated for their pharyngitis with
ampicillin, in order to cover a possible bacterial infection. The disease can be
Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections 25
diagnosed by one of the slide tests to screen for it or more definitively by an EBV
panel (see below). Other mimics of EBV IM include primary CMV disease, human
herpes virus 6 disease (HHV6), acute retroviral syndrome, secondary disseminated
syphilis, and acute toxoplasmosis (Hurt and Tammaro 2007).
Other manifestations of EBV IM include severe tonsillitis (which can potentially
interfere with swallowing), splenomegaly (with a small risk of splenic rupture),
hepatitis, myocarditis, pneumonitis, interstitial nephritis, and hemolytic anemia.
These are uncommon, but point to the diversity of clinical manifestations of acute
EBV infection.
EBV-infected B cells are transformed and tend to proliferate spontaneously. This
proliferation, if uncontrolled, can result in serious disease. Therefore, EBV infection
does not cause illness by causing lysis of tissues, but by the immune suppression of
these proliferating B cells. Thus, rarely, IM can be severe, with poorly controlled
proliferation of the infected B cells, and fatal results. This is a rare entity known as
fatal IM (FIM) and can be seen in X-linked lymphoproliferative disorder, and it may
be seen in other more subtle immune deficiencies. Acute EBV can cause a
hemophagocytic syndrome, a sepsis-like syndrome caused by EBV triggering
widespread macrophage activation and histiocytosis leading to a cytokine storm
with multiple organ failure. In a few cases, EBV-driven lymphoproliferative syndrome
can affect the central nervous system, as part of the systemic disease.
EBV can also result in a broad spectrum of neoplasms and lymphoproliferative
states. One of the first to be characterized, as discussed above, is Burkitt’s lymphoma,
in which there is systemic lymphomatous involvement, particularly with
visceral involvement. A high proportion of the original patients with Burkitt’s
lymphoma has central nervous system involvement. Others, as mentioned above,
include Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder
(PTLD), X-linked lymphoproliferative disorder (XLPD), primary CNS lymphoma
(especially in AIDS patients), nasopharyngeal carcinomas of Southeast Asia, T cell
and NK cell lymphomas, and leiomyosarcomas. These generally involve latent
infection of the neoplastic cells. Oral hairy leukoplakia, an infection of the tongue
epithelium, is a lytic infection.
2.4 Pathology and Pathogenesis
EBV is transmitted by intimate oral contact, with virus shed asymptomatically in
the saliva. The initial infection is of B cells in the oral mucosa. These cells are
immortalized and proliferate, with latent replication of the virus within the B cells.
The latently infected B cells express a very limited set of proteins and latencyassociated
RNA molecules. These sets (or latency types) depend on the stage of the
illness (Table 1). These antigens are recognized by the immune system and a T cell
response is generated. The infection is thereby controlled, but not eliminated. In
some cases, the manifestations of the disease tend to be focal, with a clinical picture
of hepatitis, meningitis, or encephalitis. It is not clear why this occurs in an
otherwise systemic disease.
26 A. Tselis
The pathogenesis of encephalitis (or meningitis or hepatitis or other focal
visceral involvement) is not completely clear and there are several possibilities,
which are not mutually exclusive. First, EBV may affect neurons (or other neural
cells or endothelium) directly (Jones et al. 1995). There have been a few scattered
reports of neurons and glial cells staining with EBV antigens, although there is not
much detail (Biebl et al. 2009). In some patients with EBV encephalitis, as well as
some with primary CNS lymphoma, lytic EBV mRNA was detected in the CSF,
suggesting lytic replication of EBV in the brain in addition to latent replication
(Weinberg et al. 2002a). Secondly, EBV-infected B cells are in an activated state
and elaborate several proinflammatory cytokines, which can cause injury of the
surrounding parenchyma (Foss et al. 1994). This injury is not necessarily irreversible.
Third, EBV-infected B cells are actively attacked by EBV-specific cytotoxic T
cells, and this can also injure the surrounding parenchyma. Finally, an acute
disseminated encephalomyelitis can be triggered as in other viral infections.
Normally, EBV-infected B cells are suppressed (though not eliminated) by the
immune system and lymphoproliferation can result during immunosuppression. In
tissue culture in which T cells have been eliminated, B cells are immortalized and
proliferate. In vivo, the B cell lymphoproliferation proceeds sequentially from
polyclonal to oligoclonal to monoclonal, and evolves into a lymphoma. This can
occur under circumstances of immunosuppression in transplant, chemotherapy, and
AIDS patients as mentioned above. The lymphoproliferation can be accompanied
by the elaboration of various cytokines, and a severe systemic illness resembling
sepsis can result.
2.5 Spectrum of Neurologic Disease Associated with EBV
The spectrum of neurologic disease caused by EBV is very broad, and encompasses
all of the neurological syndromes, pure or mixed: meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis,
Table 1 Latency antigens and types
Latency type Latency antigens
EBER EBNA-1 EBNA-2 EBNA-3 LMP-1 LMP-2 BARTs
1 + + – – – – +
2 + + – – + + +
3 + + + + + + +
Other + +/– – – – + +/–
Latency types
Latency 1 Burkitt’s lymphoma
Latency 2 Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Hodgkin’s disease
Latency 3 Infectious mononucleosis, lymphoproliferative disease
Other Perpheral blood B lymphocytes
EBER Epstein–Barr virus-encoded RNA, EBNA Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen, LMP Latent membrane
protein, BART BamHI A rightward transcripts
Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections 27
radiculopathy, plexitis, psychosis, and behavioral abnormalities. These syndromes
may precede, follow, or occur independent of IM.
2.5.1 Aseptic Meningitis
Aseptic meningitis was one of the first reported complications of acute EBV
infection, reported by Johansen (1931). Headaches are not rare in IM, and it is
likely that some of these are due to aseptic meningitis. The early appreciation of
aseptic meningitis is illustrated by a 1950 review of neurological complications of
IM in which it was found in 41 % of the cases (Bernstein and Wolfe 1950). It is selflimiting.
2.5.2 Encephalitis
Encephalitis is an uncommon manifestation of IM with a broad clinical spectrum,
but most cases have the usual presentation of fever, headache, confusion, seizures,
and focal features. EBV encephalitis can precede, coincide with, or follow typical
IM, and IM may be absent altogether (Silverstein et al. 1972; Friedland and Yahr
1977; Greenberg et al. 1982; Russell et al. 1985; Leavell et al. 1986; McKendall
et al. 1990).
Brainstem encephalitis due to EBV has been reported in three cases, with one
complete recovery, onewith a residual ataxic gait, and one death (Shian and Chi 1994;
North et al. 1993; Angelini et al. 2000). The syndrome of opsoclonus–myoclonus
has been described in several cases of acute EBV infection. In one case, the patient
had opsoclonus–myoclonus with ataxic gait. EBV was detected in the cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. He was treated
with intravenous methylprednisolone followed by intravenous immunoglobulin
and returned to work 5 months later (Verma and Brozman 2002). Other cases of
EBV-associated opsoclonus–myoclonus have a similar benign outcome.
Movement disorders have been reported in EBV encephalitis cases. In one case
which resembled encephalitis lethargica, the patient developed an akinetic-rigid
syndrome with tremor and sialorrhea. The MRI showed strongly abnormal signal in
the striatum. Corticosteroids and antiparkinson drugs were given and the symptoms
resolved over 2 months (Dimova et al. 2006). In another parkinsonian syndrome
developed coincident with EBV encephalitis, antineuronal antibodies were detected
in the serum of the patient but not three controls. Brain MRI was normal. Acyclovir,
dexamethasone, and antiparkinsonian medications were given and the patient
returned to normal over the next 2 months (Roselli et al. 2006).
2.5.3 Cranial Nerve Palsy
The most common cranial nerve palsy associated with acute EBV infection is Bell’s
palsy, which may be unilateral or bilateral (Grose et al. 1973; Egan 1960).
28 A. Tselis
Sometimes several cranial nerves can be affected. A case of unilateral Bell’s palsy
with ipsilateral deafness and facial numbness has been reported to follow IM
(Taylor and Parsons-Smith 1969). Optic neuritis and retinal involvement, which
can be bilateral, has rarely occurred with IM (Ashworth and Motto 1947; Blaustein
and Caccavo 1950; Bonynge and Van Hagen 1952).
2.5.4 Transverse Myelitis
Transverse myelitis has occasionally coincided with acute EBV infection. Several
cases of TM have been reported in the literature, in which lower extremity
paresthesias followed clinical IM, and progressed rapidly to flaccid paraplegia
within a few days. Sensory levels and upgoing toes were seen (Cotton and Webb-
Peploe 1966; Grose and Feorino 1973; Clevenbergh et al. 1997). One patient had a
transient tetraparesis but normal gait on examination. Spinal sensory level was
noted. Diagnosis was made by serology in two cases and PCR detection of EBV
DNA in CSF in one (Clevenbergh et al. 1997). In all cases there was slow recovery
over months. One of the patients received ACTH.
2.5.5 Cerebellar Ataxia
Acute cerebellar ataxia occurs in some patients with acute EBV infection, often
following mild disease. Classically this has been attributed to varicella zoster virus
(VZV) infection, especially in children. However, a significant number of cases are
associated with EBV both in children and adults (Bergen and Grossman 1975;
Cleary et al. 1980; Bennett and Peters 1961; Gilbert and Culebras 1972; Lascelles
et al. 1973). The patients have gait ataxia and dysarthric speech, with mild
pleocytosis and modestly increased CSF protein. Some have responded to ACTH,
prednisone, and plasmapheresis (Schmahmann 2004). Recurrent cerebellitis was
reported, in which a patient with dysarthria, dysmetria, and gait ataxia had a
positive EBV VCA IgM, and resolved with prednisone. A year later, the symptoms
recurred and resolved again with another course of prednisone (Shoji et al. 1983).
2.5.6 Alice-in-Wonderland Syndrome
Alice-in-Wonderland syndrome is a peculiar neuropsychiatric entity in which the
patient develops metamorphopsia or distortion of spatial perception in which
objects around the patient are perceived to be distorted in size, shape, and orientation.
These episodes last about half an hour, and are understandably anxiety
provoking. Neurologic examination is usually normal and EEGs are normal or
minimally abnormal. Single patients were treated with prednisone and phenytoin,
without clear effect. The symptoms resolve spontaneously over a few weeks
(Copperman 1977; Eshel et al. 1987). Visual evoked potentials have an increased
Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections 29
P100-N145 wave complex, and hexamethylpropylene amine oxime single-photon
emission computed tomography showed decreased perfusion in the visual tracts and
visual cortex (Lahat et al. 1999; Kuo et al. 1998).
2.5.7 Acute Hemiplegia
Occasionally acute EBV infection can be associated with a rapidly developing
hemiplegia, which can resemble a stroke. Some cases of so-called “acute hemiplegia
of childhood” may well be due to acute EBV, and there are detailed reports of
such cases. A 14-year-old girl had a left hemiplegia and left-sided numbness that
evolved over several days along with right-sided headache, vomiting, and photophobia.
She had two seizures and cervical lymphadenopathy. A fever prompted a
CSF examination which showed moderate pleocytosis. She became confused and
ataxic. Acute EBV infection was demonstrated by serology. She recovered
completely in a few months (Leavell et al. 1986). Two other similar cases with
unilateral headache and contralateral hemiplegia were reported in a 9-year-old girl
and a 32-year-old man (Baker et al. 1983; Adamson and Gordon 1992). The former
patient’s hemplegia spontaneously improved to normal over a few days. The latter,
who had a normal brain CT, resolved completely within a day of starting on
dexamethasone.
2.5.8 Neurological Lymphoproliferative Disorder
As discussed above, EBV-infected B cells have a tendency to proliferate. This is
stopped by the immune system, but if immunity is ineffective, then proliferation
proceeds relatively unchecked, leading to polyclonal expansion and eventually
oligoclonal and finally monoclonal lymphomas. Such lymphoproliferative
disorders can affect the nervous system in the course of systemic disease. For
many of these the distinction between infection, inflammation, and neoplasm is
obscured. In one case of a 14-year-old girl with a chronic febrile illness, ataxia and
hemiparesis led to an MRI of the brain which showed multifocal white matter
lesions. Acute EBV was diagnosed by serology. These resolved with steroids,
which needed to be used several times over the next few years, when she had
relapses. Several years later she developed pneumonitis and a biopsy found
lymphomatoid granulomatosis. A few years after that she developed disseminated
intravascular coagulation with hemophagocytic syndrome. In patients with
lymphomatoid granulomatosis, there is both pulmonary and CNS involvement.
Often, biopsy of the lesions show scattered lymphocytes that stain positively for
EBV antigens. Various treatments have been used, including chemotherapy and
radiation, rituximab, and cyclophosphamide, with some success (Mizuno et al.
2003; Zaidi et al. 2004). In another case of lymphoproliferative disorder, a
17-year-old boy developed EBV-IM which in a few weeks evolved into a sepsislike
syndrome with encephalopathy. He was found to have hemophagocytic
30 A. Tselis
syndrome on bone marrow biopsy and a very high EBV load in the blood. He was
treated with methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab (B cell
depleting antibody), etanercept (anti-TNFalpha antibody), and etoposide. His medical
condition improved, but he showed no cognitive improvement and an
MRI showed scattered nonenhancing frontal white matter disease. Intrathecal
chemotherapy was instituted with both cognitive and imaging improvement
(Mischler et al. 2006).
In patients with severe immunosuppression, especially in advanced HIV disease,
primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is not uncommon. In the AIDS population, this
is almost 100 % driven by EBV, whereas PCNSL is only rarely EBV-related in
those not infected with HIV (Larocca et al. 1998; Hochberg et al. 1983).
2.6 Diagnosis
The strategy of the diagnosis of EBV-related neurologic disease depends upon the
patient’s age, history, and degree of immunosuppression, in addition to the clinical
presentation. The demonstration of the appropriate serologic findings, viral
antigens, and DNA supports the clinical impression and may confirm the diagnosis.
There are, of course, subtleties which will be mentioned below.
In the case of an adolescent patient with fever, headache, sore throat, enlarged
cervical lymph nodes, and splenomegaly, leukocytosis with atypical lymphocytes
in the peripheral smear, the diagnosis of EBV meningitis can be confirmed by a
CSF examination to rule out other etiologies, and either a heterophile slide test or an
EBV panel in the serum. Other neurological syndromes, especially in the past, have
been attributed to EBV because of the coincidence of the symptoms and serology
demonstrating acute EBV infection. More recently, the acute EBV panel is used to
confirm disease, since the heterophil slide tests can be falsely negative (uncommon).
The heterophil test continues to be relevant, however, since occasionally the
EBV panel is difficult to interpret.
2.6.1 Serological Tests for EBV
Heterophile Slide Tests
It may be recalled that early in the twentieth century IM was noted to be associated
with a sheep red cell agglutinin. This antibody is specific for but not directed at
EBV antigens and is known as a heterophile antibody (HA), since it is elicited by
one type of antigen and is directed to a separate, unrelated one. A positive serum
HA test conclusively establishes an acute EBV infection. Before the EBV panel
became available, neurologic disease was related to EBV by the coincidence of the
clinical illness with a positive HA test.
Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections 31
EBV Panel
The EBV panel tests for antibodies to specific EBV antigens. Different patterns of
antibodies appear at different stages of EBV infection. These antigens are
comprised of the viral capsid antigen (VCA), which is a structural protein, early
antigen (EA), which is a complex expressed during viral lytic replication, and
Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA), which is a group of proteins confined to
the nucleus and expressed during latent infection in B cells. It was found by Henle
et al. (1974) that in acute EBV infection, the first antibody to appear is against EBV
VCA, IgM followed by IgG, the second is to EA, and, finally, the third, to EBNA
after the acute infection has resolved. Thus, a positive EBV VCA IgM and negative
EBNA IgG indicate acute EBV infection while a positive EBV VCA IgG and
positive EBNA IgG would be compatible with a remote infection. A guide to
interpretation of the EBV panel is given in Table 2.
PCR Detection of EBV DNA
The detection of EBV DNA by PCR in the CSF has become the gold standard for
the demonstration of EBV disease in the CNS, although few systematic studies have
been done. There have been reports of acute neurologic syndromes in which EBV
serology indicated acute infection, and EBV was detected in the CSF by PCR,
which suggests the strategy of using both PCR and serology. In a series of 39
patients with acute neurologic disease, and PCR detection of EBV DNA in CSF,
three categories of disease were noted: acute EBV encephalitis, PCNSL, and
postinfectious EBV complications (such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis,
Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS), and transverse myelitis). The quantity of EBV
and degree of inflammation (as measured by pleocytosis) were both high in
encephalitis. In PCNSL, the quantity of virus was high, but there was little inflammatory
pleocytosis, as would be expected of a virally driven neoplasm. In
postinfectious complications, the viral burden was low, and the inflammatory
Table 2 Serology in EBV infection
EBV status VCA IgM VCA IgG EA EBNA
Seronegative – – – –
Recent primary + + +/
Seropositive (remote infection) – + +/ +
Infectious mononucleosis + + +
Reactivated infection +/ +++ +++ +
VCA IgG Viral capsid antigen immunoglobulin G, VCA IgM Viral capsid antigen immunoglobulin
M, EA Early antigen (antibody to), EBNA Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen (antibody to)
( ) No antibody
(+/ ) Either positive or negative
(+) Detectable antibody
(+++) High titer antibody
32 A. Tselis
pleocytosis high. These patterns are as expected, and underline that detection of
EBV DNA is not specific for EBV encephalitis (Weinberg et al. 2002a).
Furthermore, some patients with acute neurologic infections have been found to
have EBV and another pathogen detected in the CSF (Weinberg et al. 2005). It was
estimated that in 25 % of the patients (both immunocompetent and
immunosuppressed) with EBV detected in the CSF, a second pathogen may be
present. Some of the co-pathogens included CMV, VZV virus, JC polyomavirus,
West Nile virus, pneumococcus, Cryptococcus, ehrlichiosis, and mycoplasma.
These results may be due to “reactivation” of EBV because of another infection,
or to dual, independent infections. The significance is unclear, and underscores the
utility of EBV panels and heterophile testing to provide independent information.
Viral Antigen Detection
Viral antigen detection is not commonly used in the diagnosis of neurologic EBV
disease, but is used mostly in systemic disease, particularly in transplants. Thus, the
differentiation between lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in a transplanted liver
and rejection may be difficult. A biopsy that detects lymphocytes bearing latency
antigens would suggest PTLD. The diagnosis cannot be made on morphology
alone, since there is great variability and not all neoplasms have a monomorphic
appearance. Similarly, the diagnosis of PCNSL in AIDS patients often relies upon
the detection of latent antigens in lymphocytes.
2.6.2 Magnetic Resonance Imaging
There are no characteristic imaging findings that specifically suggest EBV encephalitis.
Brain MRI can be normal, or show abnormal signal in the hemispheres (with
gyral pattern or diffuse edema), basal ganglia, cerebellum, brainstem, thalamus, and
limbic system (Tselis et al. 1997; Abul-Kasim et al. 2009). The abnormal signal
may involve white matter as well as the deep gray structures, such as the basal
ganglia and thalamus (Caruso et al. 2000; Garamendi et al. 2002; Phowthongkum
et al. 2007). There are examples of simultaneous gray and white matter involvement
(Fujimoto et al. 2003). There may be pathogenetic implications of the imaging
findings. Thus, pure cortical or deep gray involvement may imply a “pure EBV
encephalitis,” whereas pure white matter involvement may be due to parainfectious
demyelination.
Imaging findings may also have some prognostic value. In the Abul-Kasim et al.
(2009) study, it was found that of those with normal imaging, 92.5 % had a good
outcome, while of those with abnormal imaging, only 60.7 % did.
Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections 33
2.7 Management
The management of neurologic EBV disease depends upon the pathogenesis of the
illness and there is no clear consensus on how to treat the diseases this virus causes.
Therapeutic modalities would have to be exceptionally safe, since neurologic EBV
disease tends to have a very benign course, even if it were very severe during the
acute phase. Thus neurologic EBV disease tends to improve whether patients are
treated with antivirals or not, and whether the patient is immunodeficient (e.g., HIV
positive) or not (Weinberg et al. 2002a).
EBV encephalitis illustrates these issues well. If the major pathogenesis of the
disease is direct lytic infection of neurons or endothelial cells in the brain (as in
herpes simplex encephalitis), then antiviral drugs such as acyclovir or ganciclovir
should be used since they inhibit viral DNA polymerase and prevent lytic infection.
However, there is no much evidence for lytic infection in EBV encephalitis. In one
autopsy, viral antigens were found in neurons and astrocytes (Biebl et al. 2009). In
the CSF of EBV encephalitis and PCNSL, lytic EBV mRNAs were found but the
source (neurons, glia, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, or plasma cells) is unknown
(Weinberg et al. 2002b). In EBV IM, acyclovir reduces viral shedding, but has no
effect on symptoms. It is not recommended to use acyclovir for EBV encephalitis
by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines, although
corticosteroids can be given consideration (Tunkel et al. 2008).
On the other hand, if EBV encephalitis were due to the accumulation of activated
EBV-infected B cells secreting inflammatory cytokines, which caused the damage,
a strategy to eliminate such B cells would be considered, using a drug such as
rituximab, which specifically depletes B cells. Of course, such a drug would have to
have access to the CNS in order to remove parenchymally placed B cells. However,
since the disease seems to have a relatively benign course, such treatment may not
be especially useful. Other immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive drugs, such
as corticosteroids or intravenous immunoglobulin, often seem to be followed by
improvement and are relatively safe to use.
For neurological EBV disease that is part of an EBV lymphoproliferative
syndrome (LPD), the disease has a systemic neoplastic character and chemotherapy
and radiation, possibly combined with rituximab (to deplete B cells) should be
considered.
3 Cytomegalovirus
3.1 A Brief History
In contrast to the dramatic history of the discovery of the nature of EBV, the
elucidation of the pathogenesis of CMV disease came about by an almost logical
34 A. Tselis
accumulation of discrete steps of important observations and discoveries (Ho 2008;
Riley 1997; Weller 1970, 2000).
The characteristic cytomegalic cells of CMV disease were first noted by Ribbert
in 1881 in the kidney and parotic glands of a syphilitic neonate, and confirmed by
Jesionek and Kiolemenoglu (1904). They interpreted these cells as protozoa. Others
took up the search and found similar cells in other infants. The similarity of these
cells to those seen in herpes zoster and herpes genitalis was remarked by
Goodpasture and Talbot (1921) and by Von Glahn and Pappenheimer (1925). The
prominence of these cells in salivary glands prompted the term “salivary gland
virus.” In 1926, a guinea pig model of salivary gland virus disease bolstered the
case for the viral nature of the agent as salivary gland disease was shown to be
transmissible by a filterable agent. As experience accumulated, a neonatal illness
with petechiae, hepatosplenomegaly, and brain calcifications was characterized and
correlated with the presence of cytomegalic cells. Wyatt et al. (1950) coined the
term “generalized cytomegalic inclusion disease.” When it was found that kidney
tubule cells had viral inclusions, the idea of detecting cytomegalic cells in urine was
used to make the diagnosis antenatally by Fetterman in 1952. The virus was isolated
by three independent groups, those of Smith (1956), Weller et al. (1957), and Rowe
et al. (1956). The latter developed a complement-fixation test that was used to show
that the seroprevalence in human populations was very high with an increase in age
prevalence. From the mid-1950s to the mid-1980s, more disease associations were
established. These include the connection between congenital CMV infection,
defined by CMV viruria, and deafness and cognitive difficulties later in life; the
connection between CMV and CMV mononucleosis; transmission of CMV
by transfused blood during cardiac surgery known as the “postperfusion syndrome”;
and CMV disease in transplant and AIDS patients (Ho 2008; Riley 1997;
Weller 2000).
3.2 Basic Virology
The structure of the CMV virion is similar to that of other herpesviruses with a
double-stranded DNA viral genome enclosed in a capsid, which is surrounded by a
protein-rich tegument, enveloped within a viral membrane. The genome codes for
about 230–250 proteins, depending on the isolate (clinical vs laboratory), and is
composed of a unique long (UL) and a unique short (US) region, flanked by
terminal repeats. The proteins encoded by the open reading frames (ORFs) are
labeled according to their position on the genome, following a common descriptive
name. Thus, a phosphoprotein of molecular weight 65 coded by the 83rd ORF in the
UL region would be labeled as pp65 (UL83).
CMV genes consist of latent and lytic types. The former are not as well
characterized as those of EBV, but generate RNA transcripts that are reminiscent
of the latency-associated transcripts (LATs) in herpes simplex infection or the
EBERs of EBV infection. The lytic genes are grouped into three categories:
Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections 35
immediate early (or alpha) genes (IE), early (or beta) genes (E) and late (or gamma)
genes (L). These permit viral takeover of macromolecular synthesis, synthesis of
products necessary for DNA replication (e.g., viral DNA polymerase), and synthesis
of structural components of the virion (e.g., capsid proteins), respectively.
3.3 Spectrum of Systemic CMV Disease
Initial infection is usually asymptomatic or results in a self-limited mononucleosislike
syndrome with fever, malaise, and sweats (Klemola and Kaariainen 1965).
Signs of hepatitis are noted in about a third of the patients and there is less
pharyngitis and only minimal cervical adenopathy. The heterophile antibody test
is always negative and helps to differentiate CMV-associated IM (CMV IM) from
EBV IM. Lymphocytosis with atypical cells is seen in both. Severe end organ
involvement is rare in primary CMV infection in otherwise healthy hosts.
Serious CMV disease is mostly confined to immunosuppressed patients, especially
AIDS, transplant, and chemotherapy patients. The disease is usually organ
specific in solid organ transplants, but is often systemic in bone marrow or stem cell
transplants (SCT). Active CMV infection after a transplant resembles CMV mononucleosis
with evolution to involve specific organs, especially pneumonitis, hepatitis,
colitis, esophagitis, gastritits, colitis, adrenalitis, and rarely encephalitis. Often
the organ infected is the transplanted one, and in AIDS patients, multiple organs are
often involved.
3.4 Pathology and Pathogenesis
In contrast to the multiple pathogenic processes by which EBV causes disease, the
pathogenesis of direct CMV infection is much simpler, in that it mainly causes lytic
infection of different types of cells. The typical CMV infected cell has a characteristic
appearance (see Fig. 1), but CMV antigens can be detected in normalappearing
cells.
The initial infection occurs when virus, shed in secretions such as saliva, urine,
and genital secretions, infects the naı¨ve host. It attaches to and initially infects
epithelial cells. A cell-associated viremia then ensues and the virus is deposited
systemically, infecting fibroblasts, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and smooth
muscle cells (Sinzger et al. 1995). Viral antigen can be detected in multiple organs,
including the brain, even in asymptomatic patients (Toorkey and Carrigan 1989).
The virus latently infects myeloid precursor cells, from CD34+ pluripotent stem
cells to CD14+ monocytes. When the latter enter visceral parenchyma and differentiate
into macrophages and myeloid dendritic cells, the latent infection
reactivates into a lytic one, with lytic infection of and damage to the surrounding
36 A. Tselis
parenchyma. However, T cell immunity develops and active infection is
suppressed.
CMV can “reactivate” periodically with nonspecific changes in CMV antibody
titers and shedding of virus in saliva, urine, genital secretions, or even in the
circulation. Thus, the virus can potentially spread through day care centers,
caregivers, organ and blood recipients, and sexual partners. Known specific triggers
of reactivation include radiation, allogeneic stimulation, TNFalpha, and cytotoxic
drugs. In a murine model, CMV was reactivated in an allogeneic but not in a
syngeneic kidney transplant (Hummel and Abecassis 2002). This was also noted in
bone marrow transplant patients. In a study of 100 bone marrow transplants (BMT)
between syngeneic identical twins, no CMV pneumonia was noted, whereas this
occurred in 20 % of allogeneic pairs (Applebaum et al. 1982).
In the early transplant patients, pathologic examination of the brain showed
scattered microglial nodules that were attributed to CMV encephalitis (Schober and
Fig. 1 Epstein–Barr virions
seen in this transmission
electron micrograph.
Courtesy of Dr. Fred Murphy,
CDC, CDC Public Health
Image Library
Fig. 2 Cytomegalic cell in
urine. Courtesy of Dr.
Haraszti, CDC, CDC Public
Health Image Library
Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections 37
Herman 1973; Schneck 1965; Hotson and Pedley 1976). Inclusion-bearing cells are
seen less commonly (Dorfman 1973). In patients with more severe immune suppression,
for example with AIDS or transplants, ventriculitis was seen (Morgello
et al. 1987).
3.5 Spectrum of Neurologic CMV Disease
CMV can affect the nervous system at all levels, from the hemispheres to the
peripheral nerves, with presentations reflecting the pattern of anatomic involvement.
Clinically, the patient can present with a febrile encephalopathy, myelopathy,
optic neuropathy, psychosis, hallucinations, hemiplegia with headache, brainstem
involvement, locked-in syndrome—the entire panoply of neurologic syndromes.
3.5.1 Encephalitis
CMV encephalitis is very rare in the general population and uncommon even in the
immunosuppressed. The presentations can be similar in patients with intact and
suppressed immunity, but the course tends to be more severe in the latter.
In the normal host, CMV encephalitis usually occurs during primary CMV
infection, as part of the systemic illness. The illness consists of headache, fever,
lethargy, seizures, and focal weakness, which is typical for any viral encephalitis
(Back et al. 1977; Siegman-Igra et al. 1984; Dorfman 1973; Philips et al. 1977;
Chin et al. 1973; Tyler et al. 1986; Miles et al. 1993; Waris et al. 1972; Perham et al.
1971; Studahl et al. 1992). The outcome has been variable. Several patients had
good recoveries, with return to work (Chin et al. 1973; Back et al. 1977; Studahl
et al. 1992) while others died or became disabled (Waris et al. 1972; Dorfman 1973;
Studahl et al. 1992). Two patients who were treated with vidarabine recovered
(Philips et al. 1977). A pregnant patient with CMV encephalitis made a complete
recovery after treatment with acyclovir. A case of systemic primary CMV infection
with multiple end organ involvement, including encephalitis, resolved completely
after acyclovir therapy (Khattab et al. 2009).
Other unusual presentations of CMV encephalitis have been reported in
the immunocompetent population. A rare form of CMV encephalitis with
opsoclonus–myoclonus, treated with ganciclovir, steroids, and immunoglobulin
has been reported. The patient recovered (Zaganas et al. 2007). Recently, a “paroxysmal”
form of CMV encephalitis has been reported in the literature. In this
condition, neurologic deficits lasting a few hours occur and then resolve, to be
repeated over a week or so. The outcome appears to be benign, irrespective of
whether patients are treated with antiviral drugs (Chalaupka Devetag and
Boscariolo 2000; Richert et al. 1987).
In the AIDS patient, CMV encephalitis tends to present somewhat more indolently,
with the first symptoms often noted only in retrospect (Arribas et al. 1996).
38 A. Tselis
There are two recognizable presentations, mirroring to some extent the pathological
findings. In the first, there is a syndrome of a flat affect, confusion and
disorientation, lethargy, withdrawal, and apathy, which can be difficult to distinguish
from HIV dementia (Holland et al. 1994). The pathology in these cases is that
of diffuse microglial nodules in the brain parenchyma. The second type of CMV
encephalitis begins in the same way, but multiple cranial nerves become involved,
especially with nystagmus and facial palsy (Kalayjian et al. 1993). Often the
patients have hypo- or hypernatremia (probably reflecting a concurrent CMV
adrenalitis or possibly diencephalic involvement). Such patients have ventriculitis
on MRI, and the CSF characteristically has a neutrophlic pleocytosis with
hypoglycorrhachia. I have personally seen a case of AIDS-associated CMV encephalitis
in which the CSF glucose was 0 mg/dL (confirmed on repeat testing). The
prognosis appears to be rather poor, with a median survival of 42 days, irrespective
of whether the patients were treated with antiviral drugs (Arribas et al. 1996). More
recently, an open label study of a combination of both ganciclovir and foscarnet
showed a median survival of 94 days in the participants, and when two patients
were put on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), they were able to
survive beyond the study, off anti-CMV drugs (Anduze-Fafri et al. 2000). Finally,
a case of AIDS-associated CMV encephalitis appearing after HAART was
instituted was reported. The CD4 T cell count was low and the HIV viral load
high. Ten days later, he had a headache and the CSF showed a mild pleocytosis with
a high proportion of neutrophils. CMV PCR was positive. An MRI showed
enhancement of the ependyma, typical of CMV ventriculitis. He was treated with
ganciclovir and foscarnet with improvement. The CSF CMV PCR became negative
and his symptoms resolved. He was given valganciclovir for maintenance therapy
until there was complete immune recovery, and then discontinued. He had no
recurrence to a follow-up 16 months later. This was most likely an immune
reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) causing a flare up of CMV
ventriculitis (Janowicz et al. 2005).
A study of the natural history of AIDS-associated CMV encephalitis in the
HAART era would be very valuable.
CMV encephalitis was reported early in the transplant era and had a poor
prognosis (Dorfman 1973; Schober and Herman 1973; Hotson and Pedley 1976;
Schneck 1965). In transplant patients, CMV is an important cause of systemic
disease and patients are often put on prophylactic or preemptive antiviral drugs such
as acyclovir or ganciclovir for several months after the transplant. This has reduced
systemic CMV considerably but did not completely eliminate it (Ljungman 2002).
Indeed, CMV encephalitis can occur in patients already on both ganciclovir and
foscarnet for CMV viremia (“preemptive” treatment) (Seo et al. 2001). This is true
especially for stem cell transplant recipients, who may develop CMV encephalitis
late after transplant, and seem to have a poor prognosis despite treatment with
various combinations of ganciclovir, foscarnet, and cidofovir (Reddy et al. 2010).
This may be in part due to the emergence of resistance mutations during prolonged
prophylactic or preemptive treatment.
Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections 39
3.5.2 Polyradiculopathy and Mononeuropathy Multiplex
CMV has been implicated as a potential cause of GBS, characterized by rapidly
progressively ascending flaccid weakness. In a survey of the etiologies of inflammatory
neurologic disorders, two patients with GBS were shown to be linked to
CMV by CMV complement fixation seroconversion and in one patient, isolation of
CMV from the urine, followed by the detection of cytomegalic cells in the urine
(Klemola et al. 1967). In a similar study, ten patients with GBS (one of whom had
Miller-Fisher variant) were found to have CMV IgM seroconversion (Schmitz and
Enders 1977).
A superficially similar syndrome has been seen in patients with advanced AIDS
except that it is due to direct infection of nerve roots and peripheral nerves. It is
characterized by subacutely progressive lower extremity pain and paresthesias,
flaccid weakness, and urinary retention with ascending weakness, reflecting progression
from polyradiculopathy to necrotizing myelopathy. CSF often shows a
neutrophilic pleocytosis with hypoglycorrhachia and is positive for CMV by PCR.
EMG shows denervation changes and MRI demonstrates enhancing nerve roots
(Bazan et al. 1991; Talpos et al. 1991).
CMV mononeuropathy multiplex is a rare complication seen in AIDS patients, in
which there is multifocal sensory and motor loss, with progression to severe painful
sensorimotor neuropathy. CSF is usually positive for CMV by PCR and EMG
demonstrates the typical findings of a mononeuropathy multiplex. Sometimes,
demyelination is prominent (Roullet et al. 1994; Morgello and Simpson 1994).
3.5.3 Pathogenetic Model of CMV Infection of the Nervous System
A pathogenetic model of CMV infection of the nervous system has been proposed
as a way of summarizing the evolution of the disease (Tselis and Lavi 2000). The
pattern of disease involvement in the CSN is combined with the severity of
infection and summarized as follows:
1. Diffuse multifocal CMV encephalitis (CVE)
a. Isolated inclusion-bearing cells
b. Microglial nodule encephalitis
c. Focal parenchymal necrosis
2. CMV ventriculoencephalitis
a. Ependymitis
b. Ependymitis and subependymitis
c. CVE with necrotizing periventricular lesions
3. CMV radiculomyelitis
a. CMV polyradiculitis
b. Necrotizing radiculomyelitis
40 A. Tselis
Inspection of this pattern suggests routes of access of virus to the nervous
system: through the blood–brain barrier in parenchymal blood vessels, choroid
plexus, and nerve roots, respectively, with the degree of infection depending on
the viral inoculum.
3.6 Diagnosis
Diagnosis of CMV encephalitis is made on the basis of a compatible clinical picture
and demonstration of CMV in the CSF. This has been validated in the HIV
population, and is commonly used in other immunosuppressed patients such as in
transplantation. In the AIDS population, CSF viral loads correlate to some extent
with the extent and severity of encephalitis (Arribas et al. 1995). In the critically ill
patient, it is important to consider other diagnostic possibilities such as seizures,
septic encephalopathy, and effects of medications such as cyclosporine. Serologic
methods, such as increase in titers of CMV antibody, are not useful.
3.7 Management
The currently available antiviral drugs that act against CMV are ganciclovir,
foscarnet, and cidofovir. These have been shown to treat CMV retinitis in AIDS
patients and their use in CMV encephalitis and radiculomyelitis has been an
extrapolation.
Monotherapy seems not to affect the course of AIDS-associated CMV encephalitis
(Arribas et al. 1996). The use of combination therapy with ganciclovir and
foscarnet is probably more effective, although not ultimately curative (Anduze-
Faris et al. 2000). The dose of ganciclovir was 5 mg/kg twice a day and foscarnet
90 mg/kg twice a day for an induction period of 3–6 weeks, followed by a
maintenance phase of once daily dosing for both drugs. However, both drugs are
rather toxic and the patient needs to be followed closely for bone marrow suppression
(ganciclovir) and nephrotoxicity (foscarnet). Cidofovir has unreliable CNS
penetration, and is not recommended in the IDSA guidelines (Tunkel et al. 2008).
There is preliminary evidence that immune reconstitution from HAART therapy
may allow long-term survival off anti-CMV drugs. There is even less data to guide
the use of these drugs in the non-AIDS population. In the normal host, CMV
encephalitis is often followed by disability, although a number of patients seem
to recover well without anti-CMV medications. It is reasonable to treat with these
drugs and follow the patients very closely for toxicity.
Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections 41
3.8 Summary and Conclusions
EBV and CMV are human gamma and beta herpesviruses that cause universal
infection, usually self-limited. However, they are occasionally the cause of severe
neurological syndromes. Despite the similarity of these viruses their effects are due
to very different pathogeneses, EBV is primarily immunopathogenic and thus
indirectly damaging whereas CMV causes more direct lytic infection. These viruses
are more dangerous in the immunosuppressed, and are of increasing interest given
the use of strongly immunosuppressing and immunomodulating agents. Despite a
great deal of research and knowledge, we must still turn to clinical research to
understand the natural history of the disease and test therapeutic modalities.
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