EBV-related Cold Agglutinin Disease Presenting With Conjugated Hyperbilirubinemia: A Pediatric Case Report and Mini Review

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2019 May;41(4):324-327. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001184.

Abstract

Hemolytic anemia occurs in only 1% to 3% of hospitalized patients with infectious mononucleosis. The authors describe an 8-year-old girl without cervical lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly, who presented with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and was diagnosed with cold agglutinin disease caused by an immunoglobulin M autoantibody with anti-i specificity. Acute Epstein-Barr virus infection was confirmed by serologic and molecular methods. She recovered uneventfully after a 3-week course of methylprednisolone. Epstein-Barr virus infection should be considered in any case of hemolytic anemia associated with hepatic dysfunction, especially when direct antiglobulin test is positive for C3d. In these cases, a course of corticosteroids seems safe and may be beneficial.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / virology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human
  • Humans
  • Hyperbilirubinemia / etiology*
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / complications*