A 14-year-old boy has been diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis. Which of the following pathophysiological phenomena is most responsible for his symptoms?
A) The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is lysing many of the boy's neutrophils.
B) Viruses are killing some of his B cells and becoming incorporated into the genome of others.
C) The EBV inhibits the maturation of white cells within his peripheral lymph nodes.
D) The virus responsible for mononucleosis inhibits the maturation of myeloblasts into promyelocytes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

B lymphocytes all of which have receptors for the EBV that causes mononucleosis. Infection of the B cells may take one of two forms-it may kill the infected B cell, or it may become incorporated into its genome. Lysis of neutrophils or inhibition of white cell maturation or differentiation is not a central component of mononucleosis etiology.

A 14-Year-Old Boy Has Been Diagnosed with Infectious Mononucleosis