ADVANTAGE OF POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF HERPES-SIMPLEX-ENCEPHALITIS - PRESENTATION OF 5 ATYPICAL CASES

Four cases of herpes encephalitis (HSVE) are described. The diagnosis was established by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay of cerebrospi nal fluid (CSF). These reports illustrate different situations in the clinical management of this disease. PCR was considered useful in conf irming the HSVE diagnosis in 3 atypical cases, and in the differentiat ion between virologic failure and postinfectious encephalitis in a pat ient with recurrence of symptoms, A case with typical HSVE clinical fi ndings is also reported where PCR mas negative and a temporal lobe lym phoma was diagnosed at autopsy. This last case is representative of th e utility of PCR in the management of other diseases mimicking HSVE.