Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Update on herpes simplex encephalitis.

Kenneth L Tyler¹

¹Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and the Neurology Service of the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA.

Reviews in Neurological Diseases

|January 10, 2006

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Rational design and in vivo validation of capsid inhibitors for enterovirus D68.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Annual Report from the Editor-in-Chief (2025).

Annals of neurology·2025

Same author

A rationally designed 2C inhibitor prevents enterovirus D68-infected mice from developing paralysis.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease in Patients Treated With Anti-CD20 Therapies.

Neurology. Clinical practice·2025

Same author

An Overview of the Dengue Viruses.

The Neurohospitalist·2025

Same author

EV68-228-N monoclonal antibody treatment halts progression of paralysis in a mouse model of EV-D68 induced acute flaccid myelitis.

mBio·2025

Same journal

Narcolepsy: clinical approach to etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Reviews in neurological diseases·2012

Same journal

Orofacial pain following an invasive dental procedure.

Reviews in neurological diseases·2012

Same journal

An update on the diagnosis and management of dementing conditions.

Reviews in neurological diseases·2012

Same journal

The neurology of decreased activity: abulia.

Reviews in neurological diseases·2012

Same journal

Progressive personality and language changes in a 62-year-old woman.

Reviews in neurological diseases·2012

Same journal

A rare cause of headache.

Reviews in neurological diseases·2012

See all related articles

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) diagnosis relies on PCR testing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Negative results require careful interpretation based on illness timing and treatment response.

Area of Science:

Neurology
Infectious Diseases
Medical Diagnostics

Background:

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a leading cause of sporadic viral encephalitis in the US.
Prompt diagnosis and acyclovir treatment are crucial for reducing HSE morbidity and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the diagnostic utility of PCR for HSE.
To discuss the interpretation of PCR results in clinical context.
To review neuroimaging findings in HSE.

Main Methods:

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of herpes simplex virus (HSV) genome from CSF.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting neuroimaging abnormalities.
Analysis of temporal trends and treatment impact on PCR results.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

CSF HSV PCR is the gold standard diagnostic test.
Negative PCR results require interpretation considering illness duration and treatment.
Persistent positive PCR after treatment may indicate need for revised therapy.
Over 90% of HSE patients show temporal lobe abnormalities on MRI.
Advanced MRI techniques can detect subtle abnormalities.
Pediatric neuroimaging patterns differ from adults.

Conclusions:

CSF HSV PCR is highly accurate when performed in experienced labs.
Clinical context is vital for interpreting negative PCR results.
Neuroimaging, particularly MRI, is essential for diagnosing HSE.
Understanding age-related differences in neuroimaging is important for pediatric cases.