title: Mollaret's meningitis: case report with immunocytochemical and polymerase chain reaction amplification studies.
abstract: Mollaret's meningitis is a rare disease with a characteristic clinical course and distinctive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology. Although Mollaret originally described the large mononuclear cells seen in the CSF as endothelial, subsequent ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies support a monocyte/macrophage lineage for these cells. To data, the pathogenesis of this entity remains uncertain, although an association with herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been reported in rare cases. In the current case study, immunocytochemistry for factor VIII-related antigen, leukocyte common antigen, and macrophage-specific antigen were performed and provide additional evidence of a monocyte/macrophage lineage for Mollaret cells. Polymerase chain reaction amplification for HSV DNA was done to further explore one possible etiology for this disease, but was negative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine/North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Teot
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Sexton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis; D000098902:CD163 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; D004279:DNA, Viral; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens