Comparing molecular quantification of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with quantitative structural and functional disease severity in patients with HSV encephalitis (HSVE): implications for improved therapeutic approaches

HSV is the most common identified cause of severe and fatal infectious encephalitis, accounting for approximately 10 –20% of all viral encephalitis cases in the United States [1]. The incidence of neonatal HSV infection is similar to that of serious bacterial infection amongst young infants evaluated for sepsis [2]. Despite antiviral therapy, the morbidity and mortality of HSVE remains unacceptably high; up to 6 9% of neonates and 44-62% of children and adults will suffer long-term neurological impairment [3,4].

Source: Journal of Clinical Virology - August 18, 2018 Category: Virology Authors: Kacy A. Ramirez, Asim F. Choudhri, Anami Patel, Noel T. Lenny, Rebecca E. Thompson, Leslie Berkelhammer Greenberg, Nancy Clanton Watson, Mehmet Kocak, John P. DeVincenzo Source Type: research