Interferon-alpha-2a as a salvage treatment for hemorrhagic enteritis associated with Epstein-Barr Virus reactivation: a case report

Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2021 Jan-Mar;84(1):129-130.ABSTRACTEpstein-Barr virus [EBV] is a virus that infects almost all humans worldwide. After the acute phase of the infection, it stays in a latent form in B lymphocytes. EBV reactivation tends to occur in immunosuppressed patients. EBV reactivation may involve the gastrointestinal tract ; it has been associated mainly with colitis, but hemorrhagic enteritis has been poorly reported. Treatment usually includes antivirals. However, our patient did not respond to conventional treatment, so interferon alpha-2a was given as a salvage treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of hemorrhagic enteritis associated to EBV reactivation treated successfully with interferon alpha-2a.PMID:33639704

Source: Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica - February 28, 2021 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: D Lankenau-Vela F De la Garza-Salazar P Colunga-Pedraza D Jaime-Villal ón Source Type: research