Abstract
Introduction Rare cases of double positive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) antibody causing encephalitis have been described associated with solid organ transplant.1–4 Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome is often a paraneoplastic or parainfectious phenomenon, but has only rarely been described associated with anti-NMDAR and usually with additional neuropsychiatric symptoms or encephalopathy.5–6 We describe the rare case of a renal transplant patient with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome associated with renal cell carcinoma and anti-NMDAR and EBV DNA detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Methods This was a personal case of the authors, with documentation and investigations reviewed from patient medical records at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
Results A 55 years old immunocompromised female patient presented with two weeks of increasing ataxia, oscillopsia and tremor, preceded by 3 weeks of headache, nausea and vomiting. This was on a background of three failed renal transplants for IgA focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and recent resection of stage I renal clear cell carcinoma. Examination was consistent with opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome. There were no features on encephalopathy apart from mild emotional lability.. CSF results: lymphocytosis with an elevated protein, positive EBV using polymerase chain reaction and positive anti-NMDAR. Treatment: Plasma exchange, Rituximab, intravenous acyclovir for two weeks followed by oral acyclovir for 3 months. Improvement was marked, although with residual myoclonus on 2 month follow-up.
Conclusions This rare case of paraneoplastic double-positive EBV and anti-NMDAR opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome in an immunocompromised patient demonstrates the broadening clinical phenotype of anti-NMDAR and highlights the contentious issue of EBV pathogenicity and treatment in an immunocompromised patient.
References
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