Article citationsMore>>

Kargiotis, O., Oikonomi, K., Geka, A., Psychogios, K., Safouris, A., Zis, P., Kararizou, E., Papadionisiou, P. and Tsivgoulis, G. (2021) HSV-Encephalitis Resembling Acute Cerebral Infarction in a Patient with Atrial Fibrillation: Beware of Stroke Mimics. The Neurologist, 27, 30-33.
https://doi.org/10.1097/NRL.0000000000000353

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis Complicated by Acute Ischemic Stroke

  AUTHORS: Simona Zlatanova, Oliana Boykinova

  KEYWORDS: Herpes Virus Encephalitis, Focal Neurological Deficit, Altered Mental Status, Stroke Chameleon, Persistently Positive CSF

  JOURNAL NAME: Advances in Infectious Diseases, Vol.14 No.2, May 21, 2024

  ABSTRACT: Introduction: Herpes simplex virus is the most common etiology for life-threatening sporadic encephalitis worldwide. Antiviral therapy with acyclovir has been shown to reduce mortality and should be started promptly in patients with clinically suspected viral encephalitis before serological confirmation of the diagnosis. Despite antiviral treatment, it is associated with significant mortality and a wide range of neurologic sequelae or neuropsychiatric disorders. Clinical presentation includes fever, headache, altered mental status, and focal or generalized seizures. In some cases, it can present with focal neurological deficits, such as an acute stroke. The aim of this study is to identify rare complications of HSVE. Presentation: We present a case of a 71-year-old female patient with herpes virus encephalitis and an ischemic cerebral accident. The findings of CT scan of the brain revealed an extensive right temporal hypodensity. CSF findings include an elevated protein level, normal glucose level and pleocytosis with lymphocyte predominance. The lumbar tap confirmed the presence of herpes simplex virus type 1 with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the CSF. Neurological manifestations include focal neurological deficit with left-sided hemiparesis and coma. After 40 days of complex therapy, an improvement in the mental state was observed. Conclusion: There are varying degrees of neurologic sequelae among survivors in children and adults despite the antiviral treatment. Herpes simplex encephalitis has significant morbidity and high mortality due to the lack of prophylactic treatment and preventable strategies.