The role of ultrasound assessment of the spleen mass coefficient in the observation dynamics in children with chronic EBV virus

Purpose of the study: to show the significance of ultrasound diagnostics in assessing the dynamics of the spleen mass coefficient in children of various age against the background of a chronic form of EBV virus.

Materials and methods. The study was performed on 146 children aged 3 to 18 years suffering from chronic EBV virus. Depending on age, the children were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 included 63 patients aged 3 to 7 years; Group 2 consisted of 28 children aged 8 to 11 years; Group 3 included 55 children aged 12 to 18 years. The clinical, laboratory and ultrasound examination was conducted including ultrasound of the spleen with the further determination of its mass coefficient (SMC).

Results. In the acute period of EBV virus, children of all age groups revealed an increase in SMC, while the maximum increase was observed in children aged 3 to 7 years and amounted to 6,88. Against the background of a complete clinical and laboratory recovery in this age group, the SMC remained at the level of 4.66 and did not reach the average values of healthy children of the same age. The follow-up dynamics for 15–18 months demonstrated the normalization of the SMC to the average values of healthy patients in accordance with their age (in children aged 12 years and older).

Findings. Children in the age group from 3 to 7 years old had the maximum value of the spleen mass coefficient, both in the acute period and after complete clinical and laboratory recovery. The use of ultrasound technique with the assessment of the spleen mass coefficient in the chronic course of EBV virus allows expanding and determining the children contingent for further dynamic monitoring for prevention of possible complications.

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