acyclovir and Intracranial-Hypertension

Acute hemicerebellitis, marked by headache with or without cerebellar signs, is a rare clinical entity involving a unilateral cerebellar hemisphere. The pathogenesis of acute hemicerebellitis remains unclear, and the disease rarely occurs in adults. Here, we report an 18-year-old woman who presented with a lack of coordination of the right hand and leg lasting longer than one week, following a pulsatile headache. A neurological examination disclosed ocular dysmetria, right-sided limb ataxia and slight truncal ataxia. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed mononuclear pleocytosis. The serology and autoimmune studies were unremarkable. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a focal signal change in the right cerebellar hemisphere and vermis. Acute hemicerebellitis was diagnosed, and the patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate and acyclovir. Subsequently, the headache resolved, and the cerebellar signs were markedly improved. Twenty days after admission, she became asymptomatic and brain MRI showed resolution of cerebellar hyperintensity on the right side. In conclusion, we identified only 6 additional patients with adult-onset acute hemicerebellitis from previous reports, highlighting the importance of recognizing this rare clinical entity. Its clinical outcome is usually favorable, but in the acute phase, attention should be directed toward clinical symptoms that are suggestive of increased intracranial pressure.

Topics: Acute Disease; Acyclovir; Adolescent; Adult; Age of Onset; Antiviral Agents; Cerebellar Diseases; Encephalitis, Viral; Female; Glucocorticoids; Headache; Humans; Intracranial Hypertension; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Dexamethasone; Diagnosis, Differential; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Female; Fever; Glucose; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Immunocompetence; Intracranial Hypertension; Meningitis; Monocytes; Skull

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is the most frequent cause of sporadic necrotizing encephalitis in adults. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of HSE and the factors influencing its outcome.. Retrospective study of patients diagnosed with HSE in a tertiary care teaching hospital over a 15-year period. Diagnosis was based on a consistent clinical profile for HSE, plus either a PCR-positive CSF HSV study or consistent brain neuroimaging findings. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the modified Rankin Scale: good outcome (Grades <=2) and poor outcome (Grades >=3).. Thirty-five patients were included. Mean age was 53.9 years. More than half presented febricula or fever, headache, disorientation, behavioral changes, decreased level of consciousness, or neurological deficit. CSF glucose concentration was normal in all patients and WBC count was normal in 8 (23%). PCR for HSV was positive in 92% and cranial MRI was suggestive of HSE in 100% of patients. Mortality was 8.6%. In relation to outcome, age (OR=1.079; 95% CI, 1.023-1.138) and serum albumin level at admission (OR=0.87; 95% CI, 0.794-0.954) were independent prognostic factors at discharge. At 6 months, days of fever after initiation of acyclovir therapy (OR=1.219; 95% CI, 1.046-1.422) and serum albumin level at admission (OR=0.917; 95% CI, 0.87-0.967) were independent prognostic factors.. Normal brain MRI or detection of low CSF glucose concentration requires consideration of diagnoses other than HSE. Age, serum albumin level at admission, and days of fever after initiation of acyclovir therapy were independent prognostic factors of the disease.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Aged; Antiviral Agents; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Dexamethasone; Diagnostic Imaging; Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex; Female; Hospital Mortality; Hospitals, University; Humans; Intracranial Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Seizures; Spain

We report a case of a 28 year old female who presented with variedly progressive stroke like illness and raised intracranial pressure. Brain MRI scans revealed pericallosal and periventricular hyperintensities with oedema. Various medications like intravenous immunoglobulin, antibiotics, acyclovir, methyl prednisolone and management for raised intracranial pressure were instituted. She rapidly deteroriated and died on tenth hospital day. Only at autopsy was the diagnosis of primary angitis of central nervous system established.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Autopsy; Fatal Outcome; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Intracranial Hypertension; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Methylprednisolone; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a serious viral infection with a high rate of mortality. The most commonly seen complications are behavioral changes, seizures and memory deficits. We report the case of a 37-year-old man with HSE in the right temporal lobe and a severe midline shift who was treated with acyclovir. The patient underwent anterior temporal lobe resection. Although HSE can cause permanent cognitive deficits, in this case, early surgical intervention minimized any deficit, as determined by detailed neuropsychological examination. Surgical decompression is indicated as early as possible in severe cases. This case report emphasizes the effect of surgical decompression for HSE on cognitive function, which has rarely been mentioned before.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Antiviral Agents; Decompression, Surgical; Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex; Encephalocele; Humans; Intracranial Hypertension; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; Temporal Lobe; Treatment Outcome