Usefulness of adding multiplex nested-polymerase chain reaction assay of cerebrospinal fluid samples to routine diagnostic testing for herpesvirus encephalitis
C. Frias et al., Usefulness of adding multiplex nested-polymerase chain reaction assay of cerebrospinal fluid samples to routine diagnostic testing for herpesvirus encephalitis, EUR J CL M, 20(9), 2001, pp. 670-672
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Microbiology
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The present study was conducted to assess the usefulness of adding the mult
iplex nested-polymerase chain reaction assay of cerebrospinal fluid samples
to routine diagnostic testing for herpesvirus encephalitis and to monitor
the efficacy of therapy. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from 45 patients with
presumed herpesvirus encephalitis were tested for herpes simplex virus, var
icella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, and Epstein-Barr
virus. Ten of the 45 patients were positive for a virus using the polymera
se chain reaction assay: herpes simplex virus (n = 5), Epstein-Barr virus (
n = 3). and herpes simplex virus plus the Epstein-Barr virus (n = 2). Cereb
rospinal fluid from two patients who had undergone acyclovir therapy gave n
egative results. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid by multiplex polymerase ch
ain reaction can be useful for establishing an accurate diagnosis and as a
marker of the efficacy of therapy.