EFFECT OF INTERFERON-ALPHA THERAPY IN A PATIENT WITH COMMON VARIABLE IMMUNODEFICIENCY AND CHRONIC EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTION

We report an 18-year-old boy with common variable immunodeficiency who presented with splenomegaly as well as left axillary and lateral cerv ical lymphadenopathy. Main laboratory investigations showed severe thr ombocytopenia. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA was detected in the patien t's throat-washing specimens and lymph node biopsy. Lymphocytes from t he lymph node biopsy were also positive for EBV nuclear antigen. Serol ogy for EBV and cytomegalovirus war negative. A therapeutic attempt wi th acyclovir did not influence the course of infection. Six months' tr eatment with human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha (IFN alfa) brought about the normalization of clinical and hematologic conditions. Detect ion on throat-washing specimens carried out 1 year after therapy was n egative. Our preliminary experience suggests that human lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha is a valid alternative in therapy of immunodeficient EB vir us-infected patients.