Splenic Infarction: An Under-recognized Complication of Infectious Mononucleosis?

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018 Feb 17;5(3):ofy041. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofy041. eCollection 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Splenic infarction is a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis. We describe 3 cases of splenic infarction attributed to infectious mononucleosis that we encountered within a 2-month period. We underscore the awareness of this potential complication of infectious mononucleosis and discuss the differential diagnosis of splenic infarction, including infectious etiologies. While symptomatic management is usually sufficient for infectious mononucleosis-associated splenic infarction, close monitoring for other complications, including splenic rupture, is mandated.

Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; infectious mononucleosis; splenic infarction.