HEMORRHAGIC-SHOCK AND ENCEPHALOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH ROTAVIRUS INFECTION

We report on a 21-month-old girl with a haemorrhagic shock and encepha lopathy who survived. Rotavirus genomic ribonucleic acid was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in stool, blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Serum antibody titres of the rotavirus were also high. Plasma-pheresis had a stabilizing effect on the course of the d isease. This case indicates that rotavirus infection may play all impo rtant role in the devastating cascade that occurs in some patients wit h this syndrome. The findings suggest that extensive investigation for rotavirus infection, particularly infection of the central nervous sy stem, should be carried out in patients with haemorrhagic shock and en cephalopathy.