title: Serum and cerebrospinal fluid herpes simplex virus type 1 immunoglobulin G and M titers in four cases of herpes simplex encephalitis.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) IgG and IgM ELISA titers were serially determined in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 4 patients with HSV-1 encephalitis during a follow-up period of 1-26 months. In 3 out of 4 patients HSV-1 IgM titers raised in CSF during the acute phase of disease, thus allowing differentiation between primary and reactivated forms of HSV-1 encephalitis. HSV-1 IgG titers showed a sharp elevation earlier in serum than in CSF. Specific IgG index documented a large intrathecal production of HSV-1 IgG and their persistence 2 years following clinical onset. The initial trend of serum and CSF specific IgG titer represents a reliable tool for a retrospective diagnosis of HSV-1 encephalitis.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Fondazione C. Mondino e Università di Pavia, Sezione di Pavia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceroni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camana
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Franciotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bolelli
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Revello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerna
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Savoldi
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003289:Convalescence; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M