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In Vivo Imaging Systems (IVIS) Detection of a Neuro-Invasive Encephalitic Virus
Published on: December 2, 2012
Enteroviral encephalitis presenting as rapidly progressive aphasia.
Ko-Woon Kim1, Suk-Won Ahn, Kwang-Yeol Park
1Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|May 29, 2012
Summary
Enteroviral CNS infection can cause severe meningoencephalitis, even in healthy individuals. This case highlights a rare presentation of progressive aphasia, which fully resolved with conservative management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurovirology
Background:
- Enteroviral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are typically benign.
- However, in immunocompromised individuals, they can manifest as severe meningoencephalitis.
Observation:
- A previously healthy female presented with enteroviral meningoencephalitis.
- She exhibited rapidly progressive aphasia, altered mentality, and seizures.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed pleocytosis with lymphocyte dominance, elevated protein, and normal glucose.
Findings:
- Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) showed hyperintensity in the left frontal and parietal cortices.
- Enterovirus was confirmed in the CSF via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
- Despite initial neurological decline to global aphasia, conservative management led to complete recovery within three months.
Implications:
- This case presents unusual clinical and imaging findings in enteroviral encephalitis.
- It underscores the potential for severe neurological manifestations, including aphasia, in enteroviral CNS infections.
- The findings suggest that even severe presentations may be reversible with appropriate, conservative care.
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