title: Rare association of herpes simplex virus IgM-specific antibodies and Guillain-Barré syndrome successfully treated with plasma exchange and immunosuppression.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been associated with various neurological disorders. In contrast, HSV infection is very rarely found in acute polyneuroradiculitis. In this report, a patient is described with a severe course of Guillain-Barr¿ syndrome (GBS). HSV IgM-specific antibodies and a rise of complement-fixation antibodies were detected. During the acute phase of neurologic syndrome, a nerve biopsy showed myelin damage and IgM deposits on the inner layer of the perineurium. Plasma exchange, in combination with immunosuppression, was successfully applied as a treatment in the relapsing course of GBS. Finally, after recovery, HSV-specific IgM antibodies disappeared.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerken
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trautmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Falke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bohl
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nix
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Meyer zum Büschenfelde
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine