Serap MÜLAYİM1, Hadiye ŞİRİN1, Ayşe KOCAMAN SAĞDUYU1, Ayşın ZEYTİNOĞLU2, Selda ERENSOY2

1Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Nöroloji Anabilim Dalı, İZMİR
2Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mikrobiyoloji ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, İZMİR

Keywords: herpes simpfex encephalitis, CSF nucfeic acid test

Abstract

Scientific Background: Herpes simpfex encephafitis is an acute devastating infection of the central nervous system that causes significant mortality and morbidity. Diagnosis may be difficult because of various clinic presentations. However early diagnosis is essential for effective treatment.
Objective: To evaluate diagnostic tools and prognosis among patients, suspected Herpes simplex encephalitis. Method: Researching of herpes virus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Results: Patients were classified according to PCR resufts of CSF samples, and patients in different groups were compared each other with respect to clinical, laboratory and prognostic features. Herpes simplex virus DNA (HSV DNA) of CSF samples were positive for 10 of 56 patients. Focal neurological symptoms determined more commonfy in positive HSV DNA group. Also all of the patients of this group assigned temporaf fesions by MR examination. HSV DNA positive group associated with poor prognosis in spite of appropriate antiviraf management, that was performed earfier. Conclusions: Cranial MR was considered as noninvazive and one of the most reliable diagnostic tool among patients, in which, diagnosis of herpes simpfex encephafitis was achieved by PCR anafysis in CSF sample.