Immunological aspects of infections part 36

Most individuals handle EBV infection quite well. However, rare individuals have a specific defect that fails to handle EBV infections and usually die of the disease. More important is the failure to contain EBV infections secondary to immunosuppresive therapy. For example, the x-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome that affects males from age 6 months to 20  years is in this category. These patients die of lymphomas, aplastic anemia or immunodeficiency.