Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis mimicking clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics of herpes simplex encephalitis.

Abstract

A rare case of EBV encephalitis initially diagnosed as Herpes simplex infection is presented to highlight the importance of EBV specific intrathecal ELISA and liquor PCR based differential diagnosis when Herpes simplex encephalitis specific clinical symptoms, neuroimaging signs and electroencephalographic features are present. The case report also suggests that acyclovir treatment might be beneficial for the long term outcome in adult EBV encephalitis patients.

• Authors: Zoltan Chadaide, Erika Voros, Szatmar Horvath
• Journal: Journal of medical virology (J Med Virol) Vol. 80 Issue 11 Pg. 1930-2 (Nov 2008) ISSN: 1096-9071 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18814244 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Acyclovir

Topics

• Acyclovir (therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (virology)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex (diagnosis)
• Encephalitis, Viral (drug therapy, virology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (methods)
• Epstein-Barr Virus Infections (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Female
• Head (diagnostic imaging)
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Radiography
• Treatment Outcome