Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Induction and Clinical Scoring of Chronic-Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: July 4, 2007
[Clinical characteristics of relapsing virus encephalitis and mechanisms of relapse]
Yan Huang1, Xiu-qin Liu, Yin-chang Yang
1Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100730, China. huangyan90@yahoo.com.cn
Objective:
To investigate the clinical characteristics of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) and to discuss the mechanism of its relapse.
Method:
The clinical data of 6 patients with relapsing encephalitis, 4 male and 1 female, aged 14 - 49, out of 150 encephalitis cases were analyzed: 5 of them were suspected as with HSE clinically, and HSE was confirmed by pathology via biopsy in 2 of the 6 patients. The 5 patients were followed up for 2 - 6 years.
Result:
The duration between the onset and relapse was 1 - 26 months. Brain MRI or CT showed new lesions in the temporal lobe in 5 patients. Necropsy revealed intracellular inclusions, positive in HSV-1 antigen, in the neurons and glial cells of temporal lobe in one case. Second course of acyclovir therapy was effective in 5 of these 6 patients. One patient died 10 months later.
Conclusion:
Direct invasion of activated virus into the central nervous system and insufficiency of acyclovir treatment are the causes of relapse of HSE. Acyclovir treatment should be early, with sufficient amount, and individualized.
Related Concept Videos
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Encephalitis l: Introduction
Arboviral Encephalitis
Viral Meningitis
Rabies
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology
