mononucleosis-like syndrome – American ME and CFS Society

Abstract:

Human herpesvirus-6 is a lymphotropic virus which infects susceptible individuals during the first year of life and usually causes life-long latency. In a variable percentage primary infections are followed by a short acute disease, exanthema subitum. Older individuals may suffer from infectious mononucleosis-like illnesses or from Kikuchi-Fujimoto’s disease. In addition, there is a fairly wide spectrum of lymphoid and hematopoietic diseases or autoimmune disorders, which are associated with elevated titers of HHV-6 antibody, and from which replicating virus may be isolated. Such diseases include atypical polyclonal lymphoproliferation, Hodgkin’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. The present article reviews the current knowledge of such associations.

Source: Krueger GR, Klueppelberg U, Hoffmann A, Ablashi DV. Clinical correlates of infection with human herpesvirus-6. In Vivo. 1994 Jul-Aug;8(4):457-85. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7893974

Abstract:

The detailed clinical, hematological, and biochemical analysis performed in 332 patients in whom infectious mononucleosis had been diagnosed or suspected revealed the mononucleosis-like syndrome due to Cytomegalovirus infection in 4.5%. This diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of specific antibodies in the ELISA methods (most frequent titres 1:1600 and 1:3200) and or by the CFT (mostly 1:64 and 1:128). The diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis was confirmed in the Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn test in the titre was greater than or equal to 1:56.

Attention is drawn to the differences regarding the clinical signs as well as the clinical and biochemical parameters between the mononucleosis-like syndrome and the infectious mononucleosis. The clinical diagnosis of this syndrome is difficult however possible, if kept, in mind and if all the parameters are properly analysed. This diagnosis has to be always confirmed by serologic test.

Source: Janeczko J. Infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome caused by Cytomegaloviruses. Przegl Epidemiol. 1991;45(4):257-61. [Article in Polish] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1668699