[Von Economo-Cruchet lethargic encephalitis and its relation to HIV infection]

The AIDS epidemic is currently considered to be the first retroviral disease in humans. However, in the large volume of work on von Economo-Cruchet's encephalitis lethargica, the authors reveal a series of common points between both diseases. The progress of both diseases is identical at every stage, with neurotropism, premature psychological disorders, mononucleasic syndrome, similar somatic manifestations of the viral attack and terminal dementia. The anatomo-pathological and epidemiological data, along with the hypothesis that encephalitis lethargica is sexually transmitted, reinforce the idea of a relationship between the two diseases. The interest which would be aroused by the discovery of a viral origin of encephalitis lethargica and the resulting experimental elements seem to make it worthwhile leaving the question open in order to find a precise answer. We are calling on all our colleagues in basic research to seek a solution to what we think is an essential question.