FATAL APLASTIC-ANEMIA CAUSED BY EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTION AFTER AUTOLOGOUS BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION FOR NON-HODGKIN MALIGNANT-LYMPHOMA

We report a case of severe and fatal aplastic anemia during an episode of infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr (EB) virus infecti on. The 13-year-old female patient had shown normal hematological find ings and had previously undergone repeated chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation for refractory non-Hodgkin malignant lymp homa (NHL). She was probably in an immuno-suppressed condition prior t o this episode of infection. The possible causal relationship of the E B virus infection in the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia was documente d by the clinical course, demonstration of EB virus genome in the bone marrow cells, and an elevated plasma interferon (IFN)-gamma level.