title: [New aspects in the diagnosis of herpes simplex virus encephalitis--case reports and virologic findings].
abstract: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is one of the most common causes of severe necrotizing encephalitis in men. Without adequate acyclovir treatment it has a mortality rate of 70%. An early, reliable virological diagnosis is therefore essential. In this study, two newly-introduced diagnostic methods were assessed and compared: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for detection of HSV-genome in cerebrospinal fluid and HSV-specific isoelectric focusing (IEF) for detection of intrathecal virus specific antibody synthesis in HSV encephalitis (HSVE). PCR proved more effective for the early diagnosis of HSVE and HSVE relapses, whereas HSV-specific IEF was superior for the diagnosis of HSVE in post-acute stages of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Virologie und Immunbiologie, Universität Würzburg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pohl-Koppe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dahm
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fuhrmeister
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grüninger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Metze
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toyka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007223:Infant; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
vernacular_title: Neue Aspekte in der Diagnostik der Herpes-simplex-Virusenzephalitis--Fallberichte und virologische Befunde.