Fulminant Epstein-Barr viral hepatitis: Orthotopic liver transplantation and review of the literature

Acute hepatic failure caused by primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been reported in the literature in 16 cases, with an overall mortality of 87%. We report a case of fulminant hepatic failure in an immunocompetent young girl caused by primary EBV infection that was treated by orthotopic liver transplantation. After transplantation she has been treated with low- dose immunosuppression, a pooled gammaglobulin preparation containing anti- EBV antibodies, and anti-viral therapy. The patient is presently doing well 2 years after transplantation without evidence of clinical EBV infection, primary immunodeficiency, or lymphoproliferative disease. (C) 1998 by the A merican Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.