title: [Value of gene amplification of herpesviruses in the diagnosis and treatment of acute viral encephalitis].
abstract: Positive diagnosis of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis was rarely obtained in the past, when brain biopsy had been performed. Other tests (HSV antigen and HSV antibodies detection and interferon alpha measurement, in cerebrospinal fluid) failed to prove HSV infection. Polymerase chain reaction has been proposed for accurate and rapid diagnosis of HSV encephalitis. With 35 cycles of a DNA polymerase sequence duplication, sensitivity reaches 95% and specificity 100%. HSV PCR is a useful tool for the diagnosis of acute encephalitis. This should be available in many neurologic clinics. Therapeutic consequences include rapid disruption of aciclovir when clinical features, MRI study and negative PCR suggest non herpetic encephalitis.
authors.affiliation: Clinique Neurologique, CHU Lille.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caparros-Lefebvre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dewilde
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guffond
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verier
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vallée
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wattre
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Petit
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir
vernacular_title: Valeur de l'amplification génique du virus herpétique dans le diagnostic et le traitement des encéphalites aiguës virales.