[Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and herpes virus. Report of an unusual case: a cause or casual association?].
OBJECTIVE
To present a curious case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).


METHODS
A forty-seven year old man claimed of paresis in the arms since four years. The electrical study of the muscles and nerves diagnosis was ALS, type Vulpian-Bernardt. The cerebrospinal fluid study revealed an inflammatory process and the positivity of immulogical reactions for Herpes simplex I. The blood-brain barrier study showed the possibility that immunological response for Herpes simplex I was produced in the spinal fluid space. A magnetic resonance suggested cystic myelopathy of cervical spinal cord expanding from C2 to C4. The patient received endovenous acyclovir for 21 days. Until two months after the medication we did not submit the patient to other subsidiary examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Until now there is no specific drug treatment for ALS. The notion that there is a "syndrome of ALS" related with various causes may help to treat some patients.
Departamento de Medicina, Universidade de Taubaté (UNITAU).
J E
JE
Ferri-De-Barros
M
M
Moreira
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir