Chronic active EB virus infection with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and progression to aggressive NK cell leukemia: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract BackgroundThe clinical trend of EBV infected patients has been always the focus of attention. It is extremely difficult to identify which patients may resolve spontaneously or proceed to chronic stage or proceed rapidly.Case descriptionWe report a rare case of chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis progressed to childhood aggressive NK cell leukemia (ANKL) and cured by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.ConclusionsThe EBV infection of T/NK cells can lead to CAEBV, and if the T/NK cells carry HLH related gene mutation, it is easy to accompany with the hemophagocytic syndrome, and this type of CAEBV may rapidly progress to ANKL or other neoplastic diseases. Therefore, we should reinforce the knowledge on this kind of patients to receive appropriate and timely treatment.