[Human herpesvirus 6 encephalitis in a patient with glucocorticoid therapy for inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm].

Abstract

A 73-year-old man with inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm was admitted with headache and fever. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed pneumonia and antibiotic therapy was started. Short-term memory impairment was observed and his consciousness had been rapidly deteriorated with seazure. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) image and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance image (DWI) showed high intensity signals around bilateral limbic areas and herpes simplex encephalitis was suspected. After human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 DNA was amplified from cerebrospinal fluid, he was diagnosed with HHV-6 encephalitis and treated with gancyclovir. Clinicians need to be aware that glucocorticoid treatment for elderly can cause HHV-6 encephalitis.

• Authors: Hidetaka Yajima, Motohisa Yamamoto, Tetsuya Tabeya, Chisako Suzuki, Tetsuyuki Igarashi, Mikiko Matsui, Yasuyoshi Naishiro, Hiroki Takahashi, Yasuhisa Shinomura
• Journal: Nihon Rinsho Men'eki Gakkai kaishi = Japanese journal of clinical immunology (Nihon Rinsho Meneki Gakkai Kaishi) Vol. 37 Issue 2 Pg. 96-100 ( 2014) ISSN: 1349-7413 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 24835137 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Prednisolone

Topics

• Aged
• Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal (drug therapy)
• Encephalitis, Viral (etiology)
• Glucocorticoids (adverse effects)
• Herpesvirus 6, Human
• Humans
• Male
• Prednisolone (adverse effects)
• Roseolovirus Infections (etiology)