Age and Ageing Advance Access originally published online on January 11, 2006
Age and Ageing 2006 35(2):196-198; doi:10.1093/ageing/afj021
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Acute EpsteinBarr virus infection in two elderly individuals
Second Department of Medicine, University of Athens Medical School, Hippokration General Hospital, 114 Vas. Sophias St, 11523 Athens, Greece
Address correspondence to: S. P. Dourakis. Tel: (+30) 210 7774 742. Fax: (+30) 210 7706 871. Email: spiros{at}ath.forthnet.gr
Abstract
Most individuals acquire EpsteinBarr virus (EBV) infection in young age. Because of uncommon presentation and misdiagnosis, clinical manifestations are less well described in older age. We present two cases of elderly patients with predominant symptoms attributed to cold agglutinin haemolytic anaemia due to acute EBV infection without fever, lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis or splenomegaly. We conclude that misleading clinical manifestations are frequent in older individuals and may lead to inappropriate diagnostic invasive procedures.
Keywords: acute EBV infection, elderly individuals, cold agglutinin haemolytic anaemia, elderly
Received March 30, 2005; accepted in revised form November 4, 2005.