Premium
Case report: Benefits of quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the clinical management of herpes simplex virus 1 infection with prominent hepatitis and unusual secondary progression
Author(s) -
Chaillon Antoine,
Schnepf Nathalie,
Jonas Maud,
Mondon Karl,
Orain Isabelle,
Lioger Bertrand,
Cottier JeanPhilippe,
Hommet Caroline,
Goudeau Alain
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.23230
Subject(s) - herpes simplex virus , medicine , polymerase chain reaction , virology , differential diagnosis , cerebrospinal fluid , meningitis , hepatitis c virus , herpesviridae , virus , immunology , hepatitis , real time polymerase chain reaction , hsl and hsv , viral disease , pathology , biology , pediatrics , biochemistry , gene
Abstract Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of severe acute hepatitis and disseminated infection in immunocompetent adults. A case of disseminated HSV‐1 infection in an 82‐year‐old woman initially presenting with neurological problems, signs of meningitis and prominent hepatitis was investigated. Initial diagnosis, monitoring, and follow‐up were based on the application of molecular methods to cerebrospinal fluid, serum, and liver tissue samples from this patient. Following an initial full recovery, the patient presented delayed intracerebral haemorrhage and diffuse arthralgia. This atypical case, with delayed secondary progression, highlights the wide range of clinical features of HSV infection and the benefits of monitoring viral load by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) during patient management. J. Med. Virol. 84:457–461, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.