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Case Reports
. 2024 May 18:36:e01981.
doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2024.e01981. eCollection 2024.

Herpes simplex viral encephalitis with acute memory impairment and low cellular cerebrospinal fluid: A case report with systematic review literature

Mostafa Mahmoud Meshref  1 , Abdullah Ashraf Hamad  2 , Amira Mohammed Taha  3 , Yahia Nabil  4 , Ahmed Hassan  5 , Ahmed Samir Farw  5 , Mohamed Elmasry  6 , Abdulqadir J Nashwan  7
Affiliations
Case Reports

Herpes simplex viral encephalitis with acute memory impairment and low cellular cerebrospinal fluid: A case report with systematic review literature

Mostafa Mahmoud Meshref et al. IDCases. .

Abstract

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSVE) is a potentially fatal infectious central nervous system (CNS) disorder. Thus, early detection is critical in determining the case's fate. Clinical history and examination, brain computed tomography, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), and lumbar puncture have been used to establish a diagnosis. This report describes a case of HSVE with hypocellular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and an uncommon form of memory impairment. However, MRI results were consistent with HSVE, and CSF PCR tested positive for HSV-1 DNA that responded to treatment. We routinely advise patients to begin antiviral therapy as soon as possible to avoid complications.

Keywords: Case report; Cerebrospinal fluid; Herpes simplex virus; Memory affection; Polymerase chain reaction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) of patient’s brain.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
PRISMA chart.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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