[Dissociation of retrograde memory impairment in a case of herpetic encephalitis].
OBJECTIVE
To report an uncommon case of memory impairment after meningoencephalitis.


METHODS
Detailed description of the history, the lesions, the evolution and review of the bibliography.


RESULTS
A 33 year-old man showed a loss of verbal anterograde memory and a dissociation of retrograde memory impairment after an herpetic meningo-encephalitis with lesions predominant in the left temporal lobe. The patient had impairment of verbal anterograde memory. Visual memory, procedural one were intact. He had normal performances in frontal tests. Neuropsychological assessment revealed major loss of episodic biographical memory and public events memory, but sparing of semantic biographical memory and professional knowledge. This patient who was amnesic but who had not difficulties with visual memory, procedural memory, frontal abilities and didactic memory conserved ability to work.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report emphasize the multiplicity of the memory systems and the likely links between episodic biographical memory, semantic biographical memory, autobiographic episodic memory, public event memory and didactic memory.
Thomas-Antérion
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C
Service de neurologie, hôpital Bellevue, boulevard Pasteur, 42055 cedex 02, Saint-Etienne, France. pascal.thomas-anterion@wanadoo.fr
Rode
G
G
Decote
C
C
Boisson
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000647:Amnesia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D020324:Amnesia, Anterograde / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D000648:Amnesia, Retrograde / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors