Successful treatment of Epstein-Barr virus-induced transverse myelitis with ganciclovir and cytomegalovirus hyperimmune globulin following unrelated bone marrow transplantation

We report a patient who developed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced transver se myelitis 19 months after unrelated bone marrow transplantation (BMT), Th e disease was diagnosed by physical examination, serologic determinations, EBV-specific polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood lymphocytes and cerebrospinal fluid, and characteristic magnetic resonance imaging scan of the spine. The patient was treated with ganciclovir and cytomegalovirus (CM V) hyperimmune globulin, He gradually improved and recovered completely wit hin 4 weeks. This case suggests that ganciclovir and CMV hyperimmune globul in appear to be effective for the treatment of EBV-induced transverse myeli tis in immunocompromised patients following myelitis BMT.