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A Primary Neuron Culture System for the Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency and Reactivation
12:22

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Published on: April 2, 2012

Mollaret's meningitis and herpes simplex virus type 2 infections

P Farazmand1, P D Woolley, G R Kinghorn

  • 1Sexual Health Department, South Manchester University Hospitals, Manchester, UK. pfarazmand@googlemail.com

International Journal of STD & AIDS
|June 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis, a rare disorder, is now linked to the herpes simplex type 2 virus. Antiviral therapies show success in preventing and treating this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Background:

  • Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis (BRM) is a rare neurological disorder.
  • Initially described by Mollaret in 1944, the cause was unknown.
  • Advances in diagnostics have identified specific causative agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the causative agent of benign recurrent aseptic meningitis.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of antiviral treatment for BRM.

Main Methods:

  • Review of diagnostic tools for aseptic meningitis.
  • Identification of viral agents in patient samples.
  • Analysis of treatment outcomes with antiviral medications.

Main Results:

  • Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) identified as the most common agent.
  • Successful prophylaxis and treatment of BRM using antiviral agents.

Conclusions:

  • Herpes simplex virus type 2 is a primary cause of benign recurrent aseptic meningitis.
  • Antiviral treatment is effective for managing BRM.

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