title: MELAS syndrome masquerading as herpes simplex encephalitis.
abstract: Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is commonly treated empirically with acyclovir without confirmatory brain biopsy. Three consecutive adults with molecularly verified mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome presented with, and were treated for, apparent HSE. MELAS syndrome in adults may present as an atypical, recurrent form of HSE and should be added to the list of neurologic diseases that can mimic HSE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wityk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex; D006801:Humans; D017241:MELAS Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D015335:Molecular Probes