BENIGN RECURRENT MENINGITIS DUE TO HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-INFECTION

BACKGROUND: Benign recurrent meningitis, or Mollaret's meningitis, is an uncommon disease whose viral origin was long unidentified. Since 19 91, about twenty cases have been reported in patients with herpes infe ction. CASE REPORT: A female patient had experienced repealed episodes of spontaneous meningitis since 1983. The episodes resolved spontaneo usly and no etiology had been identified. A spinal tap was performed w hen the patient was again hospitalized a new episode of meningitis and PCR amplification of the herpes simples virus type 2 (HSV2) was posit ive. The patient was given long term acyclovir per os. A new spinal ta p after resolution of the meningitis episode was PCR HSV2 negative. DI SCUSSION: HSV2 infection is one of the known causes of Molaret's menin gitis. Long-term antiviral therapy appears to prevent recurrence as wa s observed in our patient.