title: Cytomegalovirus encephalitis: diagnosis with clinical approach, EEG and PCR techniques.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis is particularly evident in immunodepressed patients. Often diagnosis is difficult and time-consuming because of the complex basic clinical picture of these patients. We describe the diagnostic steps taken in a case of cytomegalovirus encephalitis affecting an elderly patient, classified as immunodepressed and deceased on the thirty-fifth day of hospitalisation in the intensive care unit due to acute myocardial infarction. Treatment with ganciclovir, 30 mg/kg per day, begun at the time of diagnosis, appears to have had a positive effect on the neurologic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurology, A. Angelucci Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maschio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giudiceandrea
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Contadini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jandolo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000821:virology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir