Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39767783›Full record

ArticleBiomedicines2024

Fatal Fulminant Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Encephalitis in Immunocompetent 5.5-Year-Old Girl-A Case Report with the Review of Diagnostic and Management Dilemmas.

Magdalena Mierzewska-Schmidt, Anna Piwowarczyk, Krystyna Szymanska, Michal Ciaston, Edyta Podsiadly, Maciej Przybylski, Izabela Pagowska-Klimek

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Biomedicines, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Magdalena Mierzewska-SchmidtDepartment of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
Anna PiwowarczykDepartment of Pediatrics with Clinical Assessment Unit, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-8764-7442
Krystyna SzymanskaDepartment of Pediatric Neurology and Rare Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
Michal CiastonDepartment of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
Edyta PodsiadlyLaboratory of Microbiology, University Center of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
Maciej PrzybylskiChair and Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
Izabela Pagowska-KlimekDepartment of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) usually causes mild, self-limiting, or asymptomatic infection in children, typically infectious mononucleosis. The severe course is more common in immunocompromised patients. Neurological complications of primary infection, reactivation of the latent infection, or immune-mediated are well-documented. However, few published cases of fatal EBV encephalitis exist. Case presentation We report a case of a 5.5-year-old immunocompetent girl with fulminant EBV encephalitis fulfilling the criteria for the recently proposed subtype Acute Fulminant Cerebral Edema: (AFCE). The child presented with fever, vomiting, altered mental status, and ataxia. Her initial brain CT (computed tomography) scan was normal. On day 2 she developed refractory status epilepticus requiring intubation, ventilation, and sedation for airway protection and seizure control. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed cytotoxic brain edema. Despite intensive treatment, including acyclovir, ceftriaxone, hyperosmotic therapy (3% NaCl), intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), corticosteroids, as well as supportive management, on day 5 she developed signs of impending herniation. Intensification of therapy (hyperventilation, deepening sedation, mannitol) was ineffective, and a CT scan demonstrated generalized brain edema with tonsillar herniation. EBV primary infection was confirmed by serology and qPCR in blood samples and post-mortem brain tissue. An autopsy was consistent with the early phase of viral encephalitis. Conclusions This case confirms that normal or non-specific CT and MRI scans do not exclude encephalitis diagnosis if clinical presentation fulfills the diagnostic criteria. The implementation of prophylactic anticonvulsants could improve outcomes. Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring should be considered in AFCE for better ICP management. Decompressive craniectomy might be a life-saving option in refractory cases. An encephalitis management algorithm is proposed.

Indexed as

acute fulminant cerebral edemachildrenencephalitisEpstein–Barr virus (EBV)management algorithm

Identifiers

PMID39767783
PMCPMC11673975

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