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

Mostafa Mahmoud Meshref; Abdullah Ashraf Hamad; Amira Mohammed Taha; Yahia Nabil; Ahmed Hassan; Ahmed Samir Farw; Mohamed Elmasry; Abdulqadir J Nashwan

doi:10.1016/j.idcr.2024.e01981

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

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

Authors

Mostafa Mahmoud Meshref¹, Abdullah Ashraf Hamad², Amira Mohammed Taha³, Yahia Nabil⁴, Ahmed Hassan⁵, Ahmed Samir Farw⁵, Mohamed Elmasry⁶, Abdulqadir J Nashwan⁷

Affiliations

¹ Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
² Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
³ Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
⁵ Neurology Department, Tawam Hospital, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
⁶ Alexandria Medical School, Alexandria University, Egypt.
⁷ Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.

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.

Publication types

Case Reports