title: Persistent intrathecal immune activation in patients with herpes simplex encephalitis.
abstract: Neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) levels were analyzed in sequential cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 20 patients with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) and 30 patients with acute febrile encephalopathy of other cause (non-HSE). Markedly elevated acute phase CSF levels of neopterin and beta 2M were found in 19 HSE patients, but the levels were only moderately increased in most of those with non-HSE. Neopterin levels were analyzed in an additional 15 HSE patients who died within a month of the onset of neurologic symptoms and correlated with the clinical severity of the HSE. After HSE, but not after non-HSE, increased levels of neopterin and beta 2M persisted for a long time (> or = 13 years). Specific intrathecal IgG activity persisted in all but 2 HSE patients. These findings indicate that there is a vigorous acute inflammatory response and a long-term persistence of intrathecal cellular and humoral immune activity in HSE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Karolinska Institute, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aurelius
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forsgren
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sköldenberg
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Strannegård
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000276:immunology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001798:Blood Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012709:Serum Albumin; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin