# Elderly Male With Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Induced Pure Red Cell Aplasia

## TL;DR

An elderly man with no prior health issues developed anemia caused by Epstein-Barr virus, which responded to treatments like steroids and immunoglobulins.

## Contribution

This case highlights a rare instance of EBV-induced PRCA in an elderly male without underlying malignancy.

## Key findings

- The patient had EBV-related PRCA without an underlying malignancy.
- Treatment with glucocorticoids, rituximab, and intravenous immunoglobulins was effective.
- This case expands understanding of EBV's role in PRCA beyond malignancy-associated cases.

## Abstract

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare hematologic disorder presenting with symptomatic normocytic anemia with preservation of other bone marrow cell lineages that may be acquired in adulthood due to malignancy, autoimmune disease, and infections. PRCA has been attributed to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in patients with underlying malignancy; however, we present a rare case of EBV-related PRCA in a previously healthy elderly male without an underlying malignancy who developed transfusion-dependent anemia that responded to glucocorticoids, rituximab, and intravenous immunoglobulins.