Extratemporal herpes encephalitis during natalizumab treatment: A case report

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2016 Nov:10:134-136. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2016.10.002. Epub 2016 Oct 5.

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) is a rare but often fatal disease if left untreated. MRI typically shows the characteristic findings of medial temporal lobe and insular involvement, while diagnosis in confirmed by CSF PCR. In immunocompromised state, HSE may have atypical clinical and radiological features. We report a MS patient under natalizumab treatment with HSE, who presented with MRI lesions exclusively in the right parietal lobe. The patient was timely started on acyclovir resulting in marked improvement. A high index of suspicion for HSE should be maintained when a patient presents with fever and extratemporal lesions, even more in immunocompromised subjects.

Keywords: Encephalitic; HSV-1; Multiple sclerosis; Natalizumab.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acyclovir / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / complications*
  • Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / diagnostic imaging
  • Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / adverse effects*
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / diagnostic imaging
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / drug therapy
  • Natalizumab / adverse effects*
  • Natalizumab / therapeutic use
  • Parietal Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Parietal Lobe / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Natalizumab
  • Acyclovir