Persistent hepatitis associated with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection.

A previously healthy boy developed persistent hepatitis without fever or lymphoproliferative disorder. Although serologic tests were not indicative, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome and transcripts were detected from the liver tissue, and real time PCR detected extremely high levels of EBV viremia. EBV infection should be included in the differential diagnoses of hepatitis of unknown etiology, even with unremarkable serologic data.