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A Primary Neuron Culture System for the Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency and Reactivation
Published on: April 2, 2012
Chorea and developmental regression associated with human herpes virus-6 encephalitis
Anoop S Pulickal1, Simi Ramachandran, Philippe Rizek
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Brown University, Women & Infants' Hospital, Providence, RI 02889, USA. apulickal@wihri.org
Abstract:
We report a 14-month old child with multiple episodes of febrile status epilepticus, followed by chorea and developmental regression, caused by human herpes virus-6 encephalitis. Chorea has been described as a complication of relapsing herpes simplex virus I infection, but not as a manifestation of human herpes virus-6 infection. It is uncertain whether the chorea was an autoimmune phenomenon or a direct effect of the virus. The child was treated with levetiracetam, intravenous immunoglobulin, and foscarnet. The seizures and chorea resolved with treatment, but developmental regression, with loss of language skills, persisted 6 months after the illness. This child illustrates a new clinical presentation of human herpes virus-6 encephalitis, adds to the spectrum of disorders caused by this virus, and strengthens the case for routine identification of specific viral agents in all cases of childhood viral infections with central nervous system symptoms to determine optimal treatment and prognosis.
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