[Choreoathetosis after Herpes simplex encephalitis].
After Herpes simplex encephalitis, 25% of cases may have a relapse, rarely as a choreoathetosic movement disorder. The anatomic basis for herpes simplex virus encephalitis-associated movement disorders remains poorly understood, but the hypothesis is that it may be due to a post-infectious immune-mediated process. We report an 8-month-old boy, with herpes simplex encephalitis type 1, who started with an extrapyramidal Syndrome, presenting with choreoathetosis and ballistic movements, three weeks after onset. These new symptoms were attributed to a post-infectious immune-mediated process. We treated our patient with corticosteroids at high dose and gamma-globulins, in addition to a new course of Acyclovir. Sedation was required to control the intense choreoathetosic movements. Tetrabenazine was also tried, unsuccessfully. We studied a mutation on the toll like receptors (TLR3), which has been related to susceptibility for the disease, which was negative.
Fernández Cooke
E
E
Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España. elisacooke@hotmail.com
Simón de Las Heras
R
R
Muñoz González
A
A
Allende Martinez
L
L
Camacho Salas
A
A
D001264:Athetosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002819:Chorea / Q000209:etiology*; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male