Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2004 Jun;8(3):R139.
doi: 10.1186/cc2850. Epub 2004 Mar 31.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 and normal protein permeability in the lungs of critically ill patients: a case for low pathogenicity?

Joanne Verheij  1 , A B Johan Groeneveld, Albertus Beishuizen, Arthur van Lingen, Alberdina M Simoons-Smit, Rob J M Strack van Schijndel
Affiliations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 and normal protein permeability in the lungs of critically ill patients: a case for low pathogenicity?

Joanne Verheij et al. Crit Care. 2004 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: The pathogenicity of late respiratory infections with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in the critically ill is unclear.

Methods: In four critically ill patients with persistent pulmonary infiltrates of unknown origin and isolation of HSV-1 from tracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, at 7 (1-11) days after start of mechanical ventilatory support, a pulmonary leak index (PLI) for 67Gallium (67Ga)-transferrin (upper limit of normal 14.1 x 10(-3)/min) was measured.

Results: The PLI ranged between 7.5 and 14.0 x 10(-3)/min in the study patients. Two patients received a course of acyclovir and all survived.

Conclusions: The normal capillary permeability observed in the lungs argues against pathogenicity of HSV-1 in the critically ill, and favors that isolation of the virus reflects reactivation in the course of serious illness and immunodepresssion, rather than primary or superimposed infection in the lungs.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Tuxen DV, Cade JF, McDonald MI, Buchanan MRC, Clark RJ, Pain MCF. Herpes simplex virus from the lower respiratory tract in adult respiratory distress syndrome. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1982;126:416–419. - PubMed
    1. Porteous C, Bradley A, Hamilton DNH, Ledingham IM, Clements GB, Robinson CG. Herpes simplex virus reactivation in surgical patients. Crit Care Med. 1984;12:626–628. - PubMed
    1. Lheureux P, Verhest A, Vincent JL, Lienard C, Levivier M, Kahn RJ. Herpes virus infection, an unusual source of adult respiratory distress syndrome. Eur J Respir Dis. 1985;66:72–77. - PubMed
    1. Tuxen DV, Wilson JW, Cade JF. Prevention of lower respiratory herpes simplex virus infection with acyclovir in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987;136:402–405. - PubMed
    1. Prellner T, Flamholc L, Haidl S, Lindholm K, Widell A. Herpes simplex virus – the most frequently isolated pathogen in the lungs of patients with severe respiratory distress. Scand J Infect Dis. 1992;24:283–292. - PubMed

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources