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Transient decrease in cerebral white matter diffusivity on MR imaging in human herpes virus-6 encephalopathy

Manami Akasaka1, Makoto Sasaki, Shigeru Ehara

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Iwate Medical University, 19-1 Uchimaru, Morioka, Iwate 020-8505, Japan. manami-imed@umin.ac.jp

Brain & Development
|January 1, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) encephalopathy in a child caused temporary white matter changes on MRI. These changes resolved, leading to cerebral atrophy, suggesting axonal damage.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) is a common virus that can cause serious neurological complications in infants.
  • HHV-6 encephalopathy is a severe brain infection requiring prompt diagnosis and management.

Observation:

  • A 16-month-old boy presented with symptoms of HHV-6 encephalopathy.
  • Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed transient abnormalities in the white matter.
  • Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) specifically showed diffuse high signal intensity in bilateral white matter regions.

Findings:

  • The observed white matter signal changes on DWI were transient and subsequently resolved.
  • Following the resolution of acute changes, the patient developed cerebral atrophy.
  • A transient decrease in white matter diffusivity was noted, indicating potential underlying pathology.

Implications:

  • The findings suggest that transient white matter diffusivity changes in HHV-6 encephalopathy may indicate axonal involvement.
  • This axonal damage could be a consequence of glial or neuronal injury caused by the virus.
  • Understanding these imaging findings is crucial for diagnosing and predicting outcomes in pediatric HHV-6 encephalopathy.

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