Reappearance of Natural-Killer-Cell Activity

To the Editor: Biron and colleagues (June 29 issue) 1 reported on a patient with severe herpesvirus infections in whom natural killer cells were absent. In 1982, we described a 17-year-old girl in whom lysis of K562 cells mediated by natural killer cells was undetectable after severe primary infection with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). 2 Recently, we obtained new information on our now 27-year-old patient. One year after her EBV infection, severe primary herpetic gingivostomatitis developed, requiring hospitalization for acyclovir therapy. Seven years later she was given a diagnosis of grade 1 intraepithelial neoplasia and condylomata, for which she received laser therapy. On . . .