Acute Renal Failure Complicated EBV Infection in Infancy

Infective mononucleosis is an acute, lymphoproliferative disorder caused by Epstein Barr virus (EBV) seen most commonly in children and young adults. Clinical presentation of the disease is characterized by fever, tonsillopharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly; whereas serological findings of this benign disorder include positive heterophilic antibody formation (transient increase in heterophilic antibodies) and prominence of hematological lymphomonocytosis of more than 10% of atypical lymphocytes. EBV infection is usually asymptomatic in childhood but acute renal failure can be a rare complication of EBV infection during its courses. In most cases, the disease resolves completely. Early recognition of EBV infection and estimation of its complication is important for prognosis of disease. In light of previous literature, we discuss the case evaluated as EBV infection complicated with acute renal failure in early childhood and results of tubulointerstitial nephritis shown on renal biopsy that was later diagnosed by serological examination as EBV infection.