Electroencephalography findings in adult patients with West Nile virus-associated meningitis and meningoencephalitis.
Eighteen adult patients with serologically confirmed West Nile virus (WNV)-associated meningitis or meningoencephalitis were admitted to our hospital during the 2000 West Nile fever outbreak in Israel. Thirteen of the patients had a more severe and prolonged clinical course, and an electroencephalogram (EEG) was, therefore, requested. A specific EEG pattern was seen in 8 patients, consisting of generalized slowing, which was more prominent over the anterior regions. Generalized slowing that was prominent over the temporal area was seen in 2 patients, and intermittent slowing over the temporal region was seen in 1 patient. Two patients had normal EEG findings. We suggest that WNV meningoencephalitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of meningitis or meningoencephalitis with a prolonged clinical course and anteriorly predominant slowing on an EEG.
Gandelman-Marton
R
R
Department of Neurology, Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. revitalgm@hotmail.com
Kimiagar
I
I
Itzhaki
A
A
Klein
C
C
Theitler
J
J
Rabey
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014902:West Nile virus