RETROBULBAR NEURITIS COMPLICATING ACUTE EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTION

A 19-year-old man presented with retrobulbar neuritis and was initiall y suspected to have neurosyphilis because of a positive microhemagglut ination assay for Treponema pallidum (MHA-TP). However, a Venereal Dis ease Research Laboratory assay was negative, and the patient was subse quently diagnosed with infection due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by he terophile antibody assay and serology for EBV. A biological false-posi tive MHA-TP has been reported in association with EBV infection. Physi cians need to be aware that both retrobulbar neuritis and a biological false-positive MHA-TP can be seen in association with EBV infection.