title: Encephaloradiculomyelitis associated to HHV-7 and CMV co-infection in immunocompetent host.
abstract: An active co-infection with CMV and HHV-7 has been never described in immunocompetent patients. The authors describe a case of encephaloradiculomyelitis in an immunocompetent man. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed positivity for DNA of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes-virus type 7 (HHV-7), whereas the same test applied on peripheral blood mononuclear cells gave negative result. These results are highly supportive of an infection of the central and peripheral nervous systems, caused by CMV and HHV7. Such viral co-infection has only been described in immune-depressed patients with CMV disease, in which HHV-7 was supposed to act as a cofactor, enhancing clinical manifestations. The same mechanism is presumably responsible for the development of encephaloradiculomyelitis clinical signs in the present case. This is the second case in which DNA of HHV-7 has been found in the CSF of an adult immunocompetent patient. This novel observation suggests that the search for viral DNA in the CSF should be performed also in immunocompetent patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences, Unit of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte,Viale Bracci, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy. ginanneschi@unisi.it
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ginanneschi
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moschettini
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dominici
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cermelli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009187:Myelitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M