Chronic active EB virus infection complicated with IgG3 subclass deficiency: An adult case treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and IFN-α

A 60-year-old man presented with recurrent genital and oral ulcers, necrotic papules on his face and scalp, spiking fever and indurated skin erythema on the trunk. A diagnosis of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection and IgG3 subclass deficiency was made, and he was supplemented by intravenous gammaglobulin injection. The spiking fever was resistant to treatment, but the addition of systemic interferon-a therapy was partially effective in treating his clinical symptoms, although the patient eventually died from pulmonary effusions and cardiac insufficiency. Key words: chronic active EB virus infection; interferon-a; immunoglobulin; lymphoproliferative disease.