Herpes simplex virus type 2 infections presenting as brainstem encephalitis and recurrent myelitis.

Abstract

We describe here 3 patients with central nervous system infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2); one patient with brainstem encephalitis and two with recurrent transverse thoracic myelitis. All three patients showed increased IgG antibodies to HSV in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). HSV-2 DNA was demonstrated in the CSF by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Upon treatment with acyclovir, one patient with myelitis partially recovered and the others completely recovered. It is important to recognize the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations of HSV-2 infection in the central nervous system (CNS).

• Authors: H Nakajima, D Furutama, F Kimura, K Shinoda, T Nakagawa, A Shimizu, N Ohsawa
• Journal: Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) (Intern Med) Vol. 34 Issue 9 Pg. 839-42 (Sep 1995) ISSN: 0918-2918 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 8580553 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Base Sequence
• Brain Stem (virology)
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (virology)
• DNA, Viral (analysis)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Encephalitis, Viral (virology)
• Female
• Herpesviridae Infections (diagnosis)
• Herpesvirus 2, Human (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Myelitis (virology)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Recurrence